Hydroacoustic, meteorologic and seismic observations of the 2016 Nansen Ice Shelf calving event and iceberg formation
Frontiers in Earth Science
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Open Access Version: Publisher Index Page
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
On 7 April 2016, the Nansen Ice Shelf (NIS) front calved into two icebergs, the first large-scale calving event in >30 years. Three hydrophone moorings were deployed seaward of the NIS in December 2015 and over the following months recorded hundreds of short duration, broadband (10-400 Hz) cryogenic signals, likely caused by fracturing of the ice-shelf. The majority of these icequakes occur between January and early March 2016, several weeks prior to the calving observed by satellite on 7 April. Barometric pressure and wind speed records show the day the icebergs drifted from the NIS coincided with the largest low-pressure storm system recorded in the previous 7 months. A nearby seismic station also shows an increase in low-frequency energy, harmonic tremor, and microseisms on 7 April. Our interpretation is the northern segment of the NIS leading edge broke free during mid-January to February, producing high acoustic energy, but the icebergs remained stationary until the combination of a strong low-pressure system, with high winds freed the icebergs. As the unpinning of Antarctic ice shelves is not a well-documented process, our observations show that storm systems may play an under-appreciated role in Antarctic ice shelf break-up.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Hydroacoustic, meteorologic and seismic observations of the 2016 Nansen Ice Shelf calving event and iceberg formation |
| Series title | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| DOI | 10.3389/feart.2019.00183 |
| Volume | 7 |
| Year Published | 2019 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media |
| Contributing office(s) | Volcano Science Center |
| Description | 183, 12p. |
| Other Geospatial | Antarctica, Nansen Ice Shelf |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |