Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2003
Subjects
Ice sheets -- Antarctica, Glaciers -- Antarctica, Ice shelves -- Antarctica, Glaciers -- Antarctica -- Ross Ice Shelf
Abstract
Changes in the discharge of West Antarctic ice streams are of potential concern with respect to global sea level. The six relatively thin, fast-flowing Ross ice streams are of interest as low-slope end-members among Antarctic ice streams. Extensive research has demonstrated that these "rivers of ice" have a history of relatively high-frequency (óO(100) years), asynchronous discharge variations with evolving lateral boundaries. Amidst this variability, a ~1300 km grounding-line retreat has occurred since the Last GlacialMaximum. Numerical studies of Ice Stream D (Parizek and others, 2002) indicate that a proposed thermal-regulation mechanism(Clarke and Marshall, 1998; Hulbe and MacAyeal,1999; Tulaczyk and others, 2000a,b), which could buffer the West Antarctic ice sheet against complete collapse, may be over-ridden by latent-heat transport within meltwater from beneath inland ice. Extending these studies to Ice Stream A,Whillans Ice Stream and Ice Stream C suggests that further grounding-line retreat contributing to sea-level rise is possible thermodynamically. However, the efficiency of basal water distribution may be a constraint on the system. Because local thermal deficits promote basal freeze-on (especially on topographic highs), observed short-term variability is likely to persist.
DOI
10.3189/172756403781816167
Persistent Identifier
http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/8435
Citation Details
Parizek, B., R.B. Alley, C.L. Hulbe, 2003, Subglacial thermal balance permits ongoing grounding line retreat along the Siple Coast of West Antarctica, Annals of Glaciology, 36, 251-256.
Description
Originally appeared in Annals of Glaciology, published by the International Glaciological Society. Article can be found at http://www.igsoc.org/annals/