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Ice-front change and iceberg behaviour along Oates and George V Coasts, Antarctica, 1912-96

TitleIce-front change and iceberg behaviour along Oates and George V Coasts, Antarctica, 1912-96
Publication TypeArticolo su Rivista peer-reviewed
Year of Publication1998
AuthorsFrezzotti, M, Cimbelli A., and Ferrigno J.G.
JournalAnnals of Glaciology
Volume27
Pagination643-650
ISSN02603055
Keywordsantarctica, Climate change, glacier dynamics, iceberg, Melting, Regional climate, warming
Abstract

Ice-front change may well be a sensitive indicator of regional climate change. We have studied the western Oates Coast from Cape Kinsey (158°50'E, 69°19'S) to Cape Hudson (153°45'E, 68°20'S) and the entire George V Coast, from Cape Hudson to Point Alden (142°02'E, 66°48'S). The glaciers here drain part of the Dome Charlie and Talos Dome areas (640 000 km2). A comparison between various documents, dated several years apart, has allowed an estimate of the surficial ice discharge, the ice-front fluctuation and the iceberg-calving flux during the last 50 years. The ice-front discharge of the studied coast has been estimated at about 90±12 km3 a-1 in 1989-91, 8.5 km3 a-1 for western Oates Coast and 82 km3 a-1 for George V Coast. From 1962-63 to 1973-74 the floating glaciers underwent a net reduction that continued from 1973-74 to 1989-91. On the other hand, from 1989-91 to 1996 the area of floating glaciers increased. Ninnis Glacier Tongue and the western part of Cook Ice Shelf underwent a significant retreat after 1980 and 1947, respectively. Satellite-image analysis of large icebergs has provided information about ice-ocean interaction and the existence of an 'iceberg trap' along George V Coast. A first estimate of the mass balance of the drainage basin of Mertz and Ninnis Glaciers shows a value close to zero or slightly negative.

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URLhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0032434944&partnerID=40&md5=cd808ab9f7852787a4ea1ab3f82e3bac
Citation KeyFrezzotti1998643