Articles | Volume 9, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-1223-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-1223-2015
Brief communication
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15 Jun 2015
Brief communication | Highlight paper |  | 15 Jun 2015

Brief Communication: Newly developing rift in Larsen C Ice Shelf presents significant risk to stability

D. Jansen, A. J. Luckman, A. Cook, S. Bevan, B. Kulessa, B. Hubbard, and P. R. Holland

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Cited articles

Borstad, C. P., Rignot, E., Mouginot, J., and Schodlok, M. P.: Creep deformation and buttressing capacity of damaged ice shelves: theory and application to Larsen C ice shelf, The Cryosphere, 7, 1931–1947, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1931-2013, 2013.
Cook, A. J. and Vaughan, D. G.: Overview of areal changes of the ice shelves on the Antarctic Peninsula over the past 50 years, The Cryosphere, 4, 77–98, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-4-77-2010, 2010.
Cook, A. J., Murray, T. I., Luckman, A., Vaughan, D. G., and Barrand, N. E.: Antarctic Peninsula 100 m Digital Elevation Model Derived from ASTER GDEM. Boulder, Colorado USA: National Snow and Ice Data Center, https://doi.org/10.7265/N58K7711, 2012.
Doake, C. S. M., Corr, H. F. J., Rott, H., Skvarca, P., and Young, N. W.: Breakup and conditions for stability of the northern Larsen Ice Shelf, Antarctica, Nature, 391, 778–780, 1998.
Glasser, N. F., Kulessa, B., Luckman, A., Jansen, D., King, E. C., Sammonds, P. R., Scambos, T. A., and Jezek, K. C.: Surface structure and stability of the Larsen C Ice Shelf, Antarctic Peninsula, J. Glaciol., 55, 400–410, https://doi.org/10.3189/002214309788816597, 2009.
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Short summary
Within the last year, a large rift in the southern part of the Larsen C Ice Shelf, Antarctic Peninsula, propagated towards the inner part of the ice shelf. In this study we present the development of the rift as derived from remote sensing data and assess the impact of possible calving scenarios on the future stability of the Larsen C Ice Shelf, using a numerical model. We find that the calving front is likely to become unstable after the anticipated calving events.
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