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Ice sheet margins and ice shelvesThe effect of climate warming on the size of ice sheet margins in polar regions is considered. Particular attention is given to the possibility of a rapid response to warming on the order of tens to hundreds of years. It is found that the early response of the polar regions to climate warming would be an increase in the area of summer melt on the ice sheets and ice shelves. For sufficiently large warming (5-10C) the delayed effects would include the breakup of the ice shelves by an increase in ice drainage rates, particularly from the ice sheets. On the basis of published data for periodic changes in the thickness and melting rates of the marine ice sheets and fjord glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica, it is shown that the rate of retreat (or advance) of an ice sheet is primarily determined by: bedrock topography; the basal conditions of the grounded ice sheet; and the ice shelf condition downstream of the grounding line. A program of satellite and ground measurements to monitor the state of ice sheet equilibrium is recommended.
Document ID
19850042373
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Thomas, R. H.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1984
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Accession Number
85A24524
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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