Jansen, D., Luckman, A. J., Cook, A., Bevan, S., Kulessa, B., Hubbard, B., Holland, P. R.

The Cryosphere

Published date June 15, 2015

Newly developing rift in Larsen C Ice Shelf presents significant risk to stability

  • Reports observed changes in the Larsen C Ice Shelf
  • Finds that an established rift in the Larsen C Ice Shelf, formerly constrained by a suture zone containing marine ice, grew rapidly during 2014 and is likely in the near future to generate the largest calving event since the 1980s and result in a new minimum area for the ice shelf
  • Investigates the recent development of the rift, quantifies the projected calving event and, using a numerical model, assesses its likely impact on ice shelf stability
  • Finds that the ice front is at risk of becoming unstable when the anticipated calving event occurs