The Equilibrium State of the Eastern Half of the Ross Ice Shelf
Abstract Measurements of ice thickness, velocity, snow accumulation rates, and surface strain-rates are used to examine the state of equilibrium of three flow bands of the Ross Ice Shelf. The analysis gives the rate of thickening of the ice shelf in terms of the basal freezing rate, which is unknown...
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Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
1978
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000020906 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000020906 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0022143000020906 2024-03-03T08:38:32+00:00 The Equilibrium State of the Eastern Half of the Ross Ice Shelf Thomas, Robert H. Bentley, Charles R. 1978 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000020906 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000020906 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) Journal of Glaciology volume 20, issue 84, page 509-518 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 Earth-Surface Processes journal-article 1978 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000020906 2024-02-08T08:39:08Z Abstract Measurements of ice thickness, velocity, snow accumulation rates, and surface strain-rates are used to examine the state of equilibrium of three flow bands of the Ross Ice Shelf. The analysis gives the rate of thickening of the ice shelf in terms of the basal freezing rate, which is unknown. However, indirect evidence suggests that the basal flux ranges from a small value of freezing in the south to a melting rate of about one meter of ice per year at the ice front. If these values are correct then the flow band in the south-east corner of the ice shelf appears to be thickening at an average value of (34 ± 15) cm of ice per year. Persistent thickening at this rate must lead to grounding of large areas of the ice shelf. This would restrict drainage from West Antarctic ice streams which feed this part of the ice shelf and these would tend to thicken and advance their grounding lines into the ice shelf. Further north, near the RISP bore-hole site, the ice shelf is probably in equilibrium. The largest flow band is to the south and east of Roosevelt Island, and this also may be in equilibrium if there is significant bottom melting from ice shelf that is more than 100 km from the ice front. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Ice Shelf Journal of Glaciology Roosevelt Island Ross Ice Shelf Cambridge University Press Antarctic Ross Ice Shelf Roosevelt Island ENVELOPE(-162.000,-162.000,-79.283,-79.283) Journal of Glaciology 20 84 509 518 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
topic |
Earth-Surface Processes |
spellingShingle |
Earth-Surface Processes Thomas, Robert H. Bentley, Charles R. The Equilibrium State of the Eastern Half of the Ross Ice Shelf |
topic_facet |
Earth-Surface Processes |
description |
Abstract Measurements of ice thickness, velocity, snow accumulation rates, and surface strain-rates are used to examine the state of equilibrium of three flow bands of the Ross Ice Shelf. The analysis gives the rate of thickening of the ice shelf in terms of the basal freezing rate, which is unknown. However, indirect evidence suggests that the basal flux ranges from a small value of freezing in the south to a melting rate of about one meter of ice per year at the ice front. If these values are correct then the flow band in the south-east corner of the ice shelf appears to be thickening at an average value of (34 ± 15) cm of ice per year. Persistent thickening at this rate must lead to grounding of large areas of the ice shelf. This would restrict drainage from West Antarctic ice streams which feed this part of the ice shelf and these would tend to thicken and advance their grounding lines into the ice shelf. Further north, near the RISP bore-hole site, the ice shelf is probably in equilibrium. The largest flow band is to the south and east of Roosevelt Island, and this also may be in equilibrium if there is significant bottom melting from ice shelf that is more than 100 km from the ice front. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Thomas, Robert H. Bentley, Charles R. |
author_facet |
Thomas, Robert H. Bentley, Charles R. |
author_sort |
Thomas, Robert H. |
title |
The Equilibrium State of the Eastern Half of the Ross Ice Shelf |
title_short |
The Equilibrium State of the Eastern Half of the Ross Ice Shelf |
title_full |
The Equilibrium State of the Eastern Half of the Ross Ice Shelf |
title_fullStr |
The Equilibrium State of the Eastern Half of the Ross Ice Shelf |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Equilibrium State of the Eastern Half of the Ross Ice Shelf |
title_sort |
equilibrium state of the eastern half of the ross ice shelf |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
1978 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000020906 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000020906 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-162.000,-162.000,-79.283,-79.283) |
geographic |
Antarctic Ross Ice Shelf Roosevelt Island |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Ross Ice Shelf Roosevelt Island |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Ice Shelf Journal of Glaciology Roosevelt Island Ross Ice Shelf |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Ice Shelf Journal of Glaciology Roosevelt Island Ross Ice Shelf |
op_source |
Journal of Glaciology volume 20, issue 84, page 509-518 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000020906 |
container_title |
Journal of Glaciology |
container_volume |
20 |
container_issue |
84 |
container_start_page |
509 |
op_container_end_page |
518 |
_version_ |
1792506939917205504 |