Research Objectives:
The main focus of the proposal is to develop an understanding of the mechanics of ice shelf rift initiation and propagation, leading up to an iceberg calving event on one of Antarctica’s largest ice shelves, and to determine the effect that the calving event has on the residual ice shelf.
The three objectives of the project are:
1. Measure simultaneously the propagation and widening of two transverse-to-flow ice shelf rifts that make up the active part of a rift system at the front of the Amery Ice Shelf using a combination of satellite and in situ measurements, and to investigate further the apparent relationship between the behavior of these two rifts.
2. Study governing stresses controlling the initiation of rifts at the front of the ice shelf and the propagation of the rift system.
3. Investigate the effect the calving event will have on the stress field in the ice shelf and on the currently inactive rifts, e.g. will calving precipitate propagation of another rift?
The research site is the Amery Ice Shelf in East Antarctica. The project is also supported by the Australian Antarctic Division and team members will work from Australia's Davis Station.
