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Breakup and conditions for stability of the northern Larsen Ice Shelf, Antarctica.

Author(s) : DOAKE C. S. M., CORR H. F. J., ROTT H., SKVARKA P., YOUNG N. W.

Type of article: Article

Summary

The rapid collapse of the northernmost section of the Larsen Ice Shelf (Larsen A) over a few days in January 1995, indicated that, after retreat beyong a critical limit, ice shelves may disintegrate rapidly. The authors use a finite element numerical model that treats ice as a continuum without fracture to examine the breakup history between 1986 and 1997 of the two northern sections of Larsen Ice Shelf (Larsen A and Larsen B). On Larsen A, only the initial and final ice-front configurations show a stable pattern. Larsen B at present exhibits a stable pattern, but if the ice front were to retreat by a furhter few kilometers, it too is likely to enter an irreversible retreat phase.

Details

  • Original title: Breakup and conditions for stability of the northern Larsen Ice Shelf, Antarctica.
  • Record ID : 1999-0591
  • Languages: English
  • Subject: Environment, General information
  • Source: Nature - vol. 391 - n. 6669
  • Publication date: 1998/02/19
  • Document available for consultation in the library of the IIR headquarters only.

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