Geophysical Research Letters, April 11
Although loss from Antarctica’s ice shelves is dominated by large calving events; smaller, more frequent fractures also occur. Such fractures can be caused by warm near-surface water in the summer, lifting a portion of the ice shelf behind its leading edge, causing the shelf to bend and fracture. This study observed such smaller fractures on the massive Ross Ice Shelf in West Antarctica. Rising ocean surface temperatures may lead to more such events in future.
https://tc.copernicus.org/
Compiled by Amy Imdieke
By Emily Jacobson, Science Writing Intern; Amy Imdieke, Global Outreach Director; and Pam Pearson, Director of ICCI.
Published Apr. 16, 2021 Updated Jul. 12, 2022 3:24 pm