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Drygalski Ice Tongue stability influenced by rift formation and ice morphology.
- Source :
- Journal of Glaciology; Apr2021, Vol. 67 Issue 262, p243-252, 10p
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- The Drygalski Ice Tongue in East Antarctica stretches 90 km into the Ross Sea and influences the local ocean circulation, and persistence of the Terra Nova Bay Polynya. We examine the controls on the size of this floating ice body by comparing the propagation of six large fractures on the ice tongue's northern side using 21 years of Landsat imagery with hydrostatic ice thickness maps and strain rate calculations. We also apply a subglacial hydrology model to estimate the location and discharge from subglacial channels over the grounding line and compare these with basal channels identified along the ice tongue using remote sensing and airborne radar data. Our results suggest that large fractures are inhibited from full-width propagation by thicker ice between basal channels. We hypothesize that only once the ice tongue thins towards the terminus, can fractures propagate and cause large calving events. This suggests an important relationship between the melting of floating ice from subglacial and ocean sources and the expansion of fractures that lead to ice tongue calving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00221430
- Volume :
- 67
- Issue :
- 262
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Glaciology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 149333046
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2020.99