Articles | Volume 14, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1673-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1673-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
27 May 2020
Research article |
| 27 May 2020
| 27 May 2020
Ice shelf rift propagation: stability, three-dimensional effects, and the role of marginal weakening
Bradley Paul Lipovsky
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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Cited
27 citations as recorded by crossref.
- The effect of hydrology and crevasse wall contact on calving M. Zarrinderakht et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-4491-2022
- Characterization of ice shelf fracture features using ICESat-2 – A case study over the Amery Ice Shelf S. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2020.112266
- Theoretical stability of ice shelf basal crevasses with a vertical temperature profile N. Coffey et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2024.52
- 2D analysis of rifts in ice shelves M. Forbes & C. Hulbe https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2024.108
- Can rifts alter ocean dynamics beneath ice shelves? M. Poinelli et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-2261-2023
- Tracking the Cracking: A Holistic Analysis of Rapid Ice Shelf Fracture Using Seismology, Geodesy, and Satellite Imagery on the Pine Island Glacier Ice Shelf, West Antarctica S. Olinger et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL097604
- Three‐Dimensional Simulation of Crack Initiation in ice Shelves at Pinning Points R. Sondershaus et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/pamm.70055
- Stability of Ice Shelves and Ice Cliffs in a Changing Climate J. Bassis et al. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-earth-040522-122817
- Sea ice-free corridors for large swell to reach Antarctic ice shelves N. Teder et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac5edd
- Controls on Larsen C Ice Shelf Retreat From a 60‐Year Satellite Data Record S. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JF006346
- Iceberg Calving: Regimes and Transitions R. Alley et al. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-earth-032320-110916
- Projected Seismic Activity at the Tiger Stripe Fractures on Enceladus, Saturn, From an Analog Study of Tidally Modulated Icequakes Within the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica K. Olsen et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JE006862
- Basal hydrofractures near sticky patches H. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2022.75
- Comprehensive assessment of stress calculations for crevasse depths and testing with crevasse penetration as damage B. Reynolds et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5045-2025
- A Novel Deep Learning-Based Approach for Rift and Iceberg Recognition From ICESat-2 Data Z. Huang et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2024.3382573
- Do atmospheric rivers trigger tabular iceberg calving? T. Rendfrey et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2024.94
- Ice shelf calving due to shear stresses: observing the response of Brunt Ice Shelf and Halloween Crack to iceberg calving using ICESat-2 laser altimetry, satellite imagery, and ice flow models A. Morris et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4303-2025
- Horizontal force-balance calving laws: Ice shelves, marine- and land-terminating glaciers N. Coffey & C. Lai https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2025.10068
- Environmental drivers of circum-Antarctic glacier and ice shelf front retreat over the last two decades C. Baumhoer et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2357-2021
- Viscoelastic mechanics of tidally induced lake drainage in the grounding zone H. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2087-2025
- Phase-field fracture modelling of ice: From triaxial tests to ice-cliff collapse T. Hageman https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cma.2026.118857
- Impact of surface melt and brine infiltration on fracture toughness of ice shelves E. Pearce et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-2723-2026
- Marginal Detachment Zones: The Fracture Factories of Ice Shelves? C. Miele et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JF006959
- Ocean Coupling Limits Rupture Velocity of Fastest Observed Ice Shelf Rift Propagation Event S. Olinger et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023AV001023
- A Generalized Interpolation Material Point Method for Shallow Ice Shelves. 2: Anisotropic Nonlocal Damage Mechanics and Rift Propagation A. Huth et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020MS002292
- Simulating the processes controlling ice-shelf rift paths using damage mechanics A. Huth et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2023.71
- Lateral flexure of Erebus Ice Tongue due to ocean current forcing and fast ice coupling R. Gomez-Fell et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2024.21
27 citations as recorded by crossref.
- The effect of hydrology and crevasse wall contact on calving M. Zarrinderakht et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-4491-2022
- Characterization of ice shelf fracture features using ICESat-2 – A case study over the Amery Ice Shelf S. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2020.112266
- Theoretical stability of ice shelf basal crevasses with a vertical temperature profile N. Coffey et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2024.52
- 2D analysis of rifts in ice shelves M. Forbes & C. Hulbe https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2024.108
- Can rifts alter ocean dynamics beneath ice shelves? M. Poinelli et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-2261-2023
- Tracking the Cracking: A Holistic Analysis of Rapid Ice Shelf Fracture Using Seismology, Geodesy, and Satellite Imagery on the Pine Island Glacier Ice Shelf, West Antarctica S. Olinger et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL097604
- Three‐Dimensional Simulation of Crack Initiation in ice Shelves at Pinning Points R. Sondershaus et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/pamm.70055
- Stability of Ice Shelves and Ice Cliffs in a Changing Climate J. Bassis et al. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-earth-040522-122817
- Sea ice-free corridors for large swell to reach Antarctic ice shelves N. Teder et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac5edd
- Controls on Larsen C Ice Shelf Retreat From a 60‐Year Satellite Data Record S. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JF006346
- Iceberg Calving: Regimes and Transitions R. Alley et al. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-earth-032320-110916
- Projected Seismic Activity at the Tiger Stripe Fractures on Enceladus, Saturn, From an Analog Study of Tidally Modulated Icequakes Within the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica K. Olsen et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JE006862
- Basal hydrofractures near sticky patches H. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2022.75
- Comprehensive assessment of stress calculations for crevasse depths and testing with crevasse penetration as damage B. Reynolds et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5045-2025
- A Novel Deep Learning-Based Approach for Rift and Iceberg Recognition From ICESat-2 Data Z. Huang et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2024.3382573
- Do atmospheric rivers trigger tabular iceberg calving? T. Rendfrey et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2024.94
- Ice shelf calving due to shear stresses: observing the response of Brunt Ice Shelf and Halloween Crack to iceberg calving using ICESat-2 laser altimetry, satellite imagery, and ice flow models A. Morris et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4303-2025
- Horizontal force-balance calving laws: Ice shelves, marine- and land-terminating glaciers N. Coffey & C. Lai https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2025.10068
- Environmental drivers of circum-Antarctic glacier and ice shelf front retreat over the last two decades C. Baumhoer et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2357-2021
- Viscoelastic mechanics of tidally induced lake drainage in the grounding zone H. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2087-2025
- Phase-field fracture modelling of ice: From triaxial tests to ice-cliff collapse T. Hageman https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cma.2026.118857
- Impact of surface melt and brine infiltration on fracture toughness of ice shelves E. Pearce et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-2723-2026
- Marginal Detachment Zones: The Fracture Factories of Ice Shelves? C. Miele et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JF006959
- Ocean Coupling Limits Rupture Velocity of Fastest Observed Ice Shelf Rift Propagation Event S. Olinger et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023AV001023
- A Generalized Interpolation Material Point Method for Shallow Ice Shelves. 2: Anisotropic Nonlocal Damage Mechanics and Rift Propagation A. Huth et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020MS002292
- Simulating the processes controlling ice-shelf rift paths using damage mechanics A. Huth et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2023.71
- Lateral flexure of Erebus Ice Tongue due to ocean current forcing and fast ice coupling R. Gomez-Fell et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2024.21
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 05 Jun 2026
Short summary
Ice shelves promote the stability of marine ice sheets and therefore reduce the ice sheet contribution to sea level rise. Ice shelf rifts are through-cutting fractures that jeopardize this stabilizing tendency. Here, I carry out the first-ever 3D modeling of ice shelf rifts. I find that the overall ice shelf geometry – particularly the ice shelf margins – alters rift stability. This work paves the way to a more realistic depiction of rifting in ice sheet models.
Ice shelves promote the stability of marine ice sheets and therefore reduce the ice sheet...
