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GPS-derived strain rates on an active ice shelf rift
Citation
Janssen, V and Coleman, R and Bassis, JN, GPS-derived strain rates on an active ice shelf rift, Survey Review, 41, (311) pp. 14-25. ISSN 0039-6265 (2009) [Refereed Article]
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DOI: doi:10.1179/003962608X389979
Abstract
Ice shelves are important components of the Antarctic ice sheet due to their ice-ocean-atmosphere interface and vulnerability to global increases (or decreases) in atmospheric and oceanic temperatures. The development of rifts, which are fractures that penetrate through the entire ice shelf thickness, precede large tabular iceberg detachment and can lead to ice shelf break-up. Changes in strain rates on an active propagating rift system on the Amery Ice Shelf, East Antarctica are determined using in-situ Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements. Results for the 2002/03 Antarctic summer period (Dec-Feb) confirm previous observations by [2] that rift propagation occurs in episodic bursts separated by several days. Transverse-to-flow (i.e. parallel-to-rift) strain rates exceed longitudinal-to-flow (i.e. normal-to-rift) rates by up to a factor of 5 and maximum principal strain rates around the rift tip vary from 12 to 21 [x 10-3/yr]. A rotation in the direction of the principal strain is evident around the rift tip, indicating a change in the mechanics of rift fracture. It is demonstrated that cumulative sum analysis [12], obtained by differencing a pair of residual baseline time series situated approximately normal and parallel to the rift, is an effective method to detect small baseline length changes.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | GPS, strain rates, ice shelf rifting, Amery Ice Shelf |
| Research Division: | Earth Sciences |
| Research Group: | Physical geography and environmental geoscience |
| Research Field: | Glaciology |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Policy, Climate Change and Natural Hazards |
| Objective Group: | Understanding climate change |
| Objective Field: | Effects of climate change on Antarctic and sub-Antarctic environments (excl. social impacts) |
| UTAS Author: | Janssen, V (Dr Volker Janssen) |
| UTAS Author: | Coleman, R (Professor Richard Coleman) |
| ID Code: | 53821 |
| Year Published: | 2009 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 3 |
| Deposited By: | Geography and Environmental Studies |
| Deposited On: | 2009-01-12 |
| Last Modified: | 2014-06-06 |
| Downloads: | 658 View Download Statistics |
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