The imbalance of glaciers after disintegration of Larsen-B ice shelf, Antarctic Peninsula
The outlet glaciers to the embayment of the Larsen-B Ice Shelf started to accelerate soon after the ice shelf disintegrated in March 2002. We analyse high resolution radar images of the TerraSAR-X satellite, launched in June 2007, to map the motion of outlet glaciers in detail. The frontal velocitie...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:2c207968db4e4a6f801667598a2df818 2023-05-15T14:03:22+02:00 The imbalance of glaciers after disintegration of Larsen-B ice shelf, Antarctic Peninsula H. Rott F. Müller T. Nagler D. Floricioiu 2011-03-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-125-2011 https://doaj.org/article/2c207968db4e4a6f801667598a2df818 EN eng Copernicus Publications http://www.the-cryosphere.net/5/125/2011/tc-5-125-2011.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-5-125-2011 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/2c207968db4e4a6f801667598a2df818 The Cryosphere, Vol 5, Iss 1, Pp 125-134 (2011) Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2011 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-125-2011 2022-12-31T12:38:47Z The outlet glaciers to the embayment of the Larsen-B Ice Shelf started to accelerate soon after the ice shelf disintegrated in March 2002. We analyse high resolution radar images of the TerraSAR-X satellite, launched in June 2007, to map the motion of outlet glaciers in detail. The frontal velocities are used to estimate the calving fluxes for 2008/2009. As reference for pre-collapse conditions, when the glaciers were in balanced state, the ice fluxes through the same gates are computed using ice motion maps derived from interferometric data of the ERS-1/ERS-2 satellites in 1995 and 1999. Profiles of satellite laser altimetry from ICESat, crossing the terminus of several glaciers, indicate considerable glacier thinning between 2003 and 2007/2008. This is taken into account for defining the calving cross sections. The difference between the pre- and post-collapse fluxes provides an estimate on the mass imbalance. For the Larsen-B embayment the 2008 mass deficit is estimated at 4.34 ± 1.64 Gt a −1 , significantly lower than previously published values. The ice flow acceleration follows a similar pattern on the various glaciers, gradually decreasing in magnitude with distance upstream from the calving front. This suggests stress perturbation at the glacier front being the main factor for acceleration. So far there are no signs of slow-down indicating that dynamic thinning and frontal retreat will go on. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Ice Shelf The Cryosphere Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula The Cryosphere 5 1 125 134 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
spellingShingle |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 H. Rott F. Müller T. Nagler D. Floricioiu The imbalance of glaciers after disintegration of Larsen-B ice shelf, Antarctic Peninsula |
topic_facet |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
The outlet glaciers to the embayment of the Larsen-B Ice Shelf started to accelerate soon after the ice shelf disintegrated in March 2002. We analyse high resolution radar images of the TerraSAR-X satellite, launched in June 2007, to map the motion of outlet glaciers in detail. The frontal velocities are used to estimate the calving fluxes for 2008/2009. As reference for pre-collapse conditions, when the glaciers were in balanced state, the ice fluxes through the same gates are computed using ice motion maps derived from interferometric data of the ERS-1/ERS-2 satellites in 1995 and 1999. Profiles of satellite laser altimetry from ICESat, crossing the terminus of several glaciers, indicate considerable glacier thinning between 2003 and 2007/2008. This is taken into account for defining the calving cross sections. The difference between the pre- and post-collapse fluxes provides an estimate on the mass imbalance. For the Larsen-B embayment the 2008 mass deficit is estimated at 4.34 ± 1.64 Gt a −1 , significantly lower than previously published values. The ice flow acceleration follows a similar pattern on the various glaciers, gradually decreasing in magnitude with distance upstream from the calving front. This suggests stress perturbation at the glacier front being the main factor for acceleration. So far there are no signs of slow-down indicating that dynamic thinning and frontal retreat will go on. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
H. Rott F. Müller T. Nagler D. Floricioiu |
author_facet |
H. Rott F. Müller T. Nagler D. Floricioiu |
author_sort |
H. Rott |
title |
The imbalance of glaciers after disintegration of Larsen-B ice shelf, Antarctic Peninsula |
title_short |
The imbalance of glaciers after disintegration of Larsen-B ice shelf, Antarctic Peninsula |
title_full |
The imbalance of glaciers after disintegration of Larsen-B ice shelf, Antarctic Peninsula |
title_fullStr |
The imbalance of glaciers after disintegration of Larsen-B ice shelf, Antarctic Peninsula |
title_full_unstemmed |
The imbalance of glaciers after disintegration of Larsen-B ice shelf, Antarctic Peninsula |
title_sort |
imbalance of glaciers after disintegration of larsen-b ice shelf, antarctic peninsula |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-125-2011 https://doaj.org/article/2c207968db4e4a6f801667598a2df818 |
geographic |
Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Ice Shelf The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Ice Shelf The Cryosphere |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 5, Iss 1, Pp 125-134 (2011) |
op_relation |
http://www.the-cryosphere.net/5/125/2011/tc-5-125-2011.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-5-125-2011 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/2c207968db4e4a6f801667598a2df818 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-125-2011 |
container_title |
The Cryosphere |
container_volume |
5 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
125 |
op_container_end_page |
134 |
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1766274014044487680 |