An increase in the expansion of Amery Ice Shelf (AIS) predicted
Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-III – Climate change
In News:
The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) has predicted an increase in the expansion of Amery Ice Shelf (AIS) boundaries from its 2016 positions.
The AIS is one of the largest glacier drainage basins in the world, located on the east coast of Antarctica.
The AIS dynamics and mass balance help in understanding the changes in the global climate scenario.
The prediction made by NCPOR is expected to help to understand the ongoing changes in the ocean and atmospheric forces better.
Key takeaways
The predictions are based on a 16-year-long satellite-based observation that covered an area of 60,000 sq. km across the AIS.
It has been predicted that there would be a 24% increase in the expansion of AIS boundaries by 2021 and another 24% expansion by 2026from its 2016 positions
The study has also observed a spatio-temporal (belonging to both space and time) change in the ice shelf as reflected by the extension of the Prydz, Mackenzie and the Sandefjord Bays which forms a part of the AIS.
In the background of the global warming scenario, the study reveals about the advancement in the predicted ice shelf extent, the future dynamism of ocean heat fluctuation.
The study has also observed that the critical cooling of the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) is resulting in an advancement of the ice shelf by 88% in the past 15 years.
These changes would contribute in a major way to climate variability.
Important value additions
Ice Shelves
The floating sheets of ice are called ‘ice shelves’.
It plays a major role in maintaining the stability of a glacier.
Ice shelves connect a glacier to the landmass.
Important parameters for the balancing of a glacier:
Ice sheet mass balance
Sea stratification
Bottom water formation
The ice sheet mass balance – Net balance between the mass gained by snow deposition and the loss of mass by melting.
Sea stratification – When water masses with different properties form layers that act as barriers to water mixing.
The deep-ocean bottom water is formed by the cooling and sinking of surface water at high latitudes.
