Channelized Ice Melting in the Ocean Boundary Layer Beneath Pine Island Glacier, Antarctica
Abstract
How, exactly, does warm ocean water erode an ice shelf? In a field study of an ice shelf at Pine Island, Antarctica, Stanton et al. (p. 1236 ) collected data from radar, seismic surveys, and oceanographic sensors inserted in holes bored through the ice shelf. The results show that localized, intensive melting occurs in a complex network of discreet channels that are formed on the underside of the shelf. This pattern of melting may limit the absolute rate of ice-shelf mass loss.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Sep 13, 2013
- Source ID
- 10.1126/science.1239373
Entities
People
- D. M. Holland
- H. F. J. Corr
- K. L. Riverman
- L. E. Peters
- M. Truffer
- R. Bindschadler
- S. Anandakrishnan
- T. P. Stanton
- W. J. Shaw
Organizations
- British Antarctic Survey
- Goddard Space Flight Center
- Naval Postgraduate School
- New York University
- Pennsylvania State University
- University of Alaska System