Brief Communication: Newly developing rift in Larsen C Ice Shelf presents significant risk to stability

• Published in: The Cryosphere
• Main Authors: D. Jansen, A. J. Luckman, A. Cook, S. Bevan, B. Kulessa, B. Hubbard, P. R. Holland
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2015
• Subjects: geo; envir; Ice Shelf; The Cryosphere
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-1223-2015; http://www.the-cryosphere.net/9/1223/2015/tc-9-1223-2015.pdf; https://doaj.org/article/9d3e7407169040599b897437797c4578

An established rift in the Larsen C Ice Shelf, formerly constrained by a suture zone containing marine ice, grew rapidly during 2014 and is likely in the near future to generate the largest calving event since the 1980s and result in a new minimum area for the ice shelf. Here we investigate the recent development of the rift, quantify the projected calving event and, using a numerical model, assess its likely impact on ice shelf stability. We find that the ice front is at risk of becoming unstable when the anticipated calving event occurs.