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Horizontal strain rate distribution on an active ice shelf rift from in-situ GPS data
Citation
Janssen, V, Horizontal strain rate distribution on an active ice shelf rift from in-situ GPS data, Journal of Global Positioning Systems, 8, (1) pp. 6-16. ISSN 1446-3156 (2009) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Originally published by the International Association of Chinese Professionals in Global Positioning Systems (CPGPS).
Official URL: http://www.cpgps.org/journal.php
Abstract
Mass loss from the Antarctic ice sheet predominantly
occurs at the fringing ice shelves via iceberg calving,
which is controlled by the initiation and propagation of
large rifts that precede iceberg detachment and can lead
to ice shelf break-up. This paper reports on the analysis of
Global Positioning System (GPS) data collected at an
active rift system on the Amery Ice Shelf, East
Antarctica, over two field seasons. Horizontal strain rates
are determined for a network of 11 sites observed over
three weeks during the 2004/05 Antarctic summer period,
and the results are combined with, and compared to,
strain rates obtained in the 2002/03 season. Maximum
principal strain rates across the network vary between 6
and 32 [x 10-3/yr], while minimum principal strain rates
are generally about 1-17 [x 10-3/yr]. Changes evident in
the strain distribution can mostly be attributed to existing
fractures passing through the GPS network and the
episodic movement of the rift tip. It is confirmed that rift
propagation in 2005/06 was slowing down. Opening rates
are inferred from baselines situated normal to the rift.
Analysis of the network using a cumulative sum approach
is found to be an effective method to detect small
baseline length changes associated with rift propagation.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | GPS, strain, rift propagation, cumulative sum, 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) |
ID Code: | 59836 |
Year Published: | 2009 |
Deposited By: | Geography and Environmental Studies |
Deposited On: | 2009-12-21 |
Last Modified: | 2010-04-14 |
Downloads: | 272 View Download Statistics |
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