Darji, S; Oza, SR; Shah, RD; Rathore, BP; Bahuguna, IM (2018). Rift assessment and potential calving zone of Amery Ice Shelf, East Antarctica. CURRENT SCIENCE, 115(9), 1799-1804.
Abstract
Ice shelves line the peripheries of Antarctica. Rift and crevasses are two main deformational structures affecting ice shelf stability. The present study deals with propagation-widening of five active rifts and future potential calving zones on Amery Ice Shelf (AIS), East Antarctica, between 2000 and 2017 using moderate resolution image spectroradiometer (MODIS) data. The widening and rift propagating rate, as well as advancement in AIS show abnormal behaviour. The expansion of AIS differs across the shelf. The highest rate of advancement was observed in 2012-2013 (similar to 517 sq. km) and the lowest was observed in 2000-2001 (similar to 35 sq. km). The rift system shows variability in its proportion and having poor relationship with environmental processes, which suggests heterogeneities in the AIS. The abnormal behaviour of rift propagation during the study period can be attributed to tsunamis, tide, current action, crevasses pattern and icequakes in the vicinity of the study region.
DOI:
10.18520/cs/v115/i9/1799-1804
ISSN:
Nov-91