Movement of the Ross Ice Shelf Near Scott Base

Abstract The rate of movement of the Ross Ice Shelf has been determined at its terminal face to the south-east of Scott Base. An average rate of movement of 23 cm./day in a direction 270° True was determined for the period March 1957 to October 1958. The terminating face of the ice shelf in McMurdo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Glaciology
Main Authors: Macdonald, W. J. P., Hatherton, T.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1961
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000027234
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000027234
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Summary:Abstract The rate of movement of the Ross Ice Shelf has been determined at its terminal face to the south-east of Scott Base. An average rate of movement of 23 cm./day in a direction 270° True was determined for the period March 1957 to October 1958. The terminating face of the ice shelf in McMurdo Sound is only about 3 metres thick compared with a thickness of several hundred metres in the Ross Sea. Altimeter heights are used to demonstrate a thinning of the shelf which is attributed to melting from below.