Investigations of an 'ice plain' in the mouth of Pine Island Glacier, Antarctica

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Corr, H.F.J., Doake, C.S.M., Jenkins, A., Vaughan, D.G.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: International Glaciological Society 2001
• Subjects: Pine Island Glacier; Antarc*; Antarctica; Antarctica Journal; Journal of Glaciology; Pine Island
• Online Access: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/18550/; http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/igsoc/jog/2001/00000047/00000156/art00006

We present newly acquired airborne radar data showing ice thickness and surface elevation for Pine Island Glacier, Antarctica. These data, when combined with earlier measurements, suggest the presence of a lightly grounded area immediately above the grounding line of Pine Island Glacier. We identify this region as a "ice plain". It lies close to the centre line of the glacier, has an elevation above buoyancy of <50 m and extends inland for >28 km. The upstream edge of the ice plain is defined by a "coupling line". The configuration of the ice plain implies that nearby thinning of the ice stream would result in substantial grounding-line retreat. We suggest that the grounding-line retreat of Pine Island Glacier, observed between 1992 and 1996, probably commenced sometime after 1981.