University of Tasmania
Browse
Lescarmontier_2012_Glacio.pdf (902.52 kB)

Vibrations of Mertz Glacier ice tongue, East Antarctica

Download (902.52 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 14:08 authored by Lescarmontier, L, Legresy, B, Richard ColemanRichard Coleman, Perosanz, F, Mayet, C, Testut, L
At the time of its calving in February 2010, Mertz Glacier, East Antarctica, was characterized by a 145km long, 35km wide floating tongue. In this paper, we use GPS data from the Collaborative Research into Antarctic Calving and Iceberg Evolution (CRAC-ICE) 2007/08 and 2009/10 field seasons to investigate the dynamics of Mertz Glacier. Twomonths of data were collected at the end of the 2007/08 field season from two kinematic GPS stations situated on each side of the main rift of the glacier tongue and from rock stations located around the ice tongue during 2008/09. Using Precise Point Positioning with integer ambiguity fixing, we observe that the two GPS stations recorded vibrations of the ice tongue with several dominant periods. We compare these results with a simple elastic model of the ice tongue and find that the natural vibration frequencies are similar to those observed. This information provides a better understanding of their possible effects on rift propagation and hence on the glacier calving processes.

History

Publication title

Journal of Glaciology

Volume

58

Issue

210

Pagination

665-676

ISSN

0022-1430

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Int Glaciol Soc

Place of publication

Lensfield Rd, Cambridge, England, Cb2 1Er

Rights statement

Copyright 2012 International Glaciological Society

Repository Status

  • Open

Socio-economic Objectives

Effects of climate change on Antarctic and sub-Antarctic environments (excl. social impacts)

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Categories

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC