Collaborative Research: Mechanics of Dry-Land Calving of Ice Cliffs

该奖项支持对陆基极地冰崖的全面研究。通过实地测量、建模和遥感，将对麦克默多干谷泰勒冰川边缘冰崖形成的物理基础进行调查。在三个地点，悬崖表面附近的冰变形和温度场的测量结果将与现有的能量平衡数据相结合，以量化一个完整季节周期内冰崖的演变。此外，一个小型地震网络将监测与冰裂事件有关的当地“冰震”。通过实地数据验证的数值模拟将能够确定冰崖演化对环境变量的敏感性。研究泰勒冰川的冰崖既有当地的动机，也有全球的动机。在全球范围内，这项工作将深入了解冰裂和冰川终点的基本过程。更好地掌握冰崖过程也将改善预测冰川对气候变化响应所需的边界条件。在当地，泰勒冰川是麦克默多干谷景观的重要组成部分，这项研究的结果将有助于确定冰川融水的生态重要来源，并将有助于更好地了解极地冰崖的冰碛形成。这项研究将有助于启动一名女科学家的职业生涯，将支持一名研究生，并为两名本科生提供体验式学习经验。博士后研究员还将把这项研究应用于高中女生野外科学体验教育项目的课程中。

This award supports a comprehensive study of land-based polar ice cliffs. Through field measurements, modeling, and remote sensing, the physics underlying the formation of ice cliffs at the margin of Taylor Glacier in the McMurdo Dry Valleys will be investigated. At three sites, measurements of ice deformation and temperature fields near the cliff face will be combined with existing energy balance data to quantify ice-cliff evolution over one full seasonal cycle. In addition, a small seismic network will monitor local "ice quakes" associated with calving events. Numerical modeling, validated by the field data, will enable determination of the sensitivity of ice cliff evolution to environmental variables. There are both local and global motivations for studying the ice cliffs of Taylor Glacier. On a global scale, this work will provide insight into the fundamental processes of calving and glacier terminus A better grasp of ice cliff processes will also improve boundary conditions required for predicting glaciers' response to climate change. Locally, the Taylor Glacier is an important component of the McMurdo Dry Valleys landscape and the results of this study will aid in defining ecologically-important sources of glacial meltwater and will lead to a better understanding of moraine formation at polar ice cliffs. This study will help launch the career of a female scientist, will support one graduate student, and provide experiential learning experiences for two undergraduates. The post-doctoral researcher will also use this research in the curriculum of a wilderness science experiential education program for high school girls.