A computational investigation of iceberg capsize as a driver of explosive ice-shelf disintegration.

• Main Authors: Amundson, Jason M., Guttenberg, Nicolas, Abbott, Dorian S., Burton, Justin C., Cathles, L. M., Macayeal, Douglas R., Zhang, Wendy W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: International Glaciology Society 2011
• Subjects: Ice-shelf disintegration; Ice-shelf collapse; ice-shelf fragment capsize; iceberg capsize; Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Stearns; The Antarctic; Wilkins; Annals of Glaciology; Antarc*; Ice Shelf; Ice Shelves; Iceberg*
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11122/11310

Potential energy released from the capsize of ice-shelf fragments (icebergs) is the immediate driver of the brief explosive phase of ice-shelf disintegration along the Antarctic Peninsula (e.g. the Larsen A, Larsen B and Wilkins ice shelves). The majority of this energy powers the rapidly expanding...