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

该奖项支持对陆地极地冰崖的全面研究。通过实地测量、模拟和遥感，将调查麦克默多干河谷泰勒冰川边缘冰崖形成的物理基础。在三个地点，悬崖面附近的冰变形和温度场的测量将与现有的能量平衡数据相结合，以量化一个完整的季节周期内冰-悬崖的演变。此外，一个小型地震台网将监测与冰川崩解事件有关的当地“冰震”。通过现场数据的验证，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本地动机，也有全球动机。在全球范围内，这项工作将提供对冰川崩解和冰川末端的基本过程的洞察。更好地掌握冰崖过程也将改善预测冰川对气候变化的反应所需的边界条件。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具有重要生态意义的冰川融水来源，并将有助于更好地了解极地冰崖上冰原的形成。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体验。博士后研究人员还将在高中女生野外科学体验教育项目的课程中使用这项研究。

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.