RAPID: Observing the Disintegration of the Scar Inlet Ice Shelf

PETIT/1565576该奖项支持一个快速反应研究(RAPID)项目，该项目旨在观察SCAR海湾冰架当前的削弱状态，并可能在其预期解体期间捕获数据。SCAR Inlet冰架(SIIS)是前拉森B冰架的南部遗迹，于2002年3月解体。自那以来，SIIS明显减弱，但尚未瓦解。近年来，比2006年前更凉爽的条件降低了解体的可能性，尽管一个温暖的季节可能足以引发这样的事件。预计今年南极洲夏季的“超级厄尔尼诺”可能会对南极洲的天气产生重大影响，可能会导致今年南极的分裂或解体。鉴于SIIS非常脆弱的状态，我们现在迫切需要采取行动，更好地了解冰架解体或冰架破裂所涉及的过程。这项工作的目标是收集几个关键的数据集，公布初步观察结果和初步结论，然后向所有科学家提供完整的数据记录。拉森B冰板的丧失和三个大型冰川(Flask冰川、Leppard冰川和Starbuck冰川)的冰持续流入导致了SIIS上应力条件的巨大变化。SIIS现在有许多巨大的裂痕，预计它将在不久的将来解体或解体。过去的研究利用了卫星数据和气象仪器，建立了许多目前关于冰架破裂和冰架减弱的想法。根据这项研究将收集的更多地面数据将测试一些关于解体前特征、触发机制、压裂过程、失控反馈效应和稳定机制的假设。该项目将收集对SIIS的广泛的多仪器现场观测，并可能捕捉到一次重大的解体事件。在与英国南极调查局的合作下，一个由4人组成的团队将通过Twin Otter部署到一个可以看到大陆架的地点，为期4周，并将在那里安装几台临时观测仪器。这项研究的学术价值来自南极半岛的作用，它是南极其他地区在未来几个世纪可能如何演化和消融冰川的缩影。更广泛的影响包括有机会教育公众了解预计的残存冰架坍塌及其与南极洲未来变化的关系。媒体广泛报道的可能性(通过与《国家地理》的联系)将突显科学家们正在观察到的气候变化驱动的冰冷地带的关键变化。这项提议需要在南极洲进行实地工作。

Pettit/1565576This award supports a Rapid Response Research (RAPID) project to observe the current weakened state of the Scar Inlet Ice Shelf, and potentially capture data during its anticipated disintegration. The Scar Inlet Ice Shelf (SIIS) is the southern remnant of the former Larsen B Ice Shelf, which disintegrated in March of 2002. Since then, the SIIS has weakened significantly but has not yet broken up. Cooler conditions than those seen prior to 2006 have reduced the chance of a disintegration in recent years, although a single warm season is likely to be enough to trigger such an event. The predicted "Super El Nino" for this austral summer may have significant effects on Antarctica's weather, potentially leading to a break-up or disintegration this year. Given the very weak state of the SIIS, it is urgent that we act now to better understand the processes involved in shelf disintegration or break-up of ice shelves. The goal of this work is to collect several key data sets, publish initial observations and preliminary conclusions, and then make the complete data record available to all scientists.Extreme changes in the stress conditions on the SIIS resulted from both the loss of the Larsen B ice plate and the continued inflow of ice from three large glaciers (Flask, Leppard, and Starbuck). The SIIS now has a number of large rifts and it is expected to break up or disintegrate in the very near future. Past research has made use of satellite data and weather instruments, establishing many of the current ideas regarding ice shelf break-ups and ice shelf weakening. Additional ground-based data to be collected under this study will test a number of hypotheses regarding pre-disintegration characteristics, triggering mechanisms, fracturing processes, runaway feedback effects, and stabilizing mechanisms. The project will collect extensive multi-instrument field observations of the SIIS and possibly capture a major disintegration event. In collaboration with the British Antarctic Survey, a team of 4 people will be deployed via Twin Otter for up to 4 weeks to a site with a broad view of the shelf and will install several temporary observing instruments there. The study derives its intellectual merit from the role of the Antarctic Peninsula as a microcosm of how other parts of Antarctica might evolve and de-glaciate in the next few centuries. The broader impacts include an opportunity to educate the public about the anticipated collapse of this remnant ice shelf and its relationship to future changes in Antarctica. The potential for wide media coverage (through a connection with the National Geographic) will underscore the critical changes scientists are observing in the crysophere driven by climate change. This proposal requires field work in Antarctica.