Research from Washington University in St. Louis reveals that the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica, the largest ice shelf on the continent, is being displaced daily by the Whillans Ice Stream. This movement, which can be up to 8 centimeters, is caused by sudden slips in the ice stream and could influence icequakes and fractures, raising concerns about the stability of ice shelves in a warming world. The study highlights the potential impact on sea level rise if the ice shelf were to collapse.
The Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica, the size of France, has been found to lurch forward once or twice a day due to elastic waves triggered by slip events on the Whillans Ice Stream. These sudden movements, detected by seismographs, could potentially lead to icequakes and fractures in the ice shelf. While not directly linked to human-induced global warming, understanding these movements is crucial for monitoring the long-term stability of the Ross Ice Shelf, which plays a significant role in slowing down the melting rate and increasing ice accumulation in the region.
