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SUMMARY:Geophysical observations on Larsen C Ice Shelf: characterising sta
 bility after Iceberg A68 - Dr Adam Booth
DTSTART:20171129T163000Z
DTEND:20171129T173000Z
UID:TALK88151@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Ian Willis
DESCRIPTION:The floating ice shelves that fringe much of the Antarctic con
 tinent have become prominent in predictive models of sea-level rise. Once 
 considered to be 'passive players' within the glaciological system\, they 
 are now considered to be significant buffers to ice loss from terrestrial 
 Antarctic glaciers. The removal of that buffer via shelf collapse exacerba
 tes the transit of terrestrial ice to the oceans.  Larsen C Ice Shelf\, on
  the Antarctic Peninsula\, has been of particular interest in recent years
  following observations of i) a loss of shallow firn in its upstream reach
 es\, and ii) a sporadically-propagating rift parallel to its calving front
 . Both of these mechanisms are invoked in ice shelf collapse\, although it
  is the latter that is currently foremost in the public eye.\n\nOn 12th Ju
 ly 2017\, Larsen C calved one of the largest icebergs ever observed. Icebe
 rg A68 represents 12% of the Larsen C area although\, as colossal as its v
 ital statistics are\, the calving event has more significance as a portent
  of shelf instability. The collapse of Larsen B in 2002\, for example\, wa
 s preceded in 1995 by a similar calving event\; and followed thereafter by
  an acceleration of its tributary glaciers. However\, observational contro
 l of the immediate aftermath of iceberg calving is sparse\, hence the mode
 ls with which ice shelf (in)stability is predicted are unconstrained.\n\nI
 n this talk\, I will review the physical constraints that we (Leeds\, Swan
 sea and Aberystwyth Universities) have accrued for characterising stabilit
 y-critical points around Larsen C. This will include an introduction to a 
 new NERC Urgency Grant that seeks to quantify the mechanical properties of
  the ice shelf in the short-term aftermath of the A68 calving event.
LOCATION:Scott Polar Research Institute\, main lecture theatre
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