西南极洲松岛冰川的内陆变薄

Inland thinning of Pine Island Glacier, West Antarctica.

作者信息

Shepherd A, Wingham D J, Mansley J A, Corr H F

机构信息

Centre for Polar Observation & Modelling, Department of Space and Climate Physics, University College London, 17 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AH, UK., British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK.

出版信息

Science. 2001 Feb 2;291(5505):862-4. doi: 10.1126/science.291.5505.862.

DOI:10.1126/science.291.5505.862

PMID:11157163

Abstract

The Pine Island Glacier (PIG) transports 69 cubic kilometers of ice each year from approximately 10% of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS). It is possible that a retreat of the PIG may accelerate ice discharge from the WAIS interior. Satellite altimetry and interferometry show that the grounded PIG thinned by up to 1.6 meters per year between 1992 and 1999, affecting 150 kilometers of the inland glacier. The thinning cannot be explained by short-term variability in accumulation and must result from glacier dynamics.

摘要

松岛冰川（PIG）每年从南极西部冰盖（WAIS）约10%的区域输送69立方千米的冰。松岛冰川的退缩可能会加速南极西部冰盖内部的冰排放。卫星测高和干涉测量显示，在1992年至1999年期间， grounded PIG每年变薄达1.6米，影响了150千米的内陆冰川。这种变薄无法用积累的短期变化来解释，而必定是由冰川动力学导致的。