scholarly journals Calving and rifting on the McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica

2017 ◽  
Vol 58 (75pt1) ◽  
pp. 78-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison F. Banwell ◽  
Ian C. Willis ◽  
Grant J. Macdonald ◽  
Becky Goodsell ◽  
David P. Mayer ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTOn 2 March 2016, several small en échelon tabular icebergs calved from the seaward front of the McMurdo Ice Shelf, and a previously inactive rift widened and propagated by ~3 km, ~25% of its previous length, setting the stage for the future calving of a ~14 km2 iceberg. Within 24 h of these events, all remaining land-fast sea ice that had been stabilizing the ice shelf broke-up. The events were witnessed by time-lapse cameras at nearby Scott Base, and put into context using nearby seismic and automatic weather station data, satellite imagery and subsequent ground observation. Although the exact trigger of calving and rifting cannot be identified definitively, seismic records reveal superimposed sets of both long-period (>10 s) sea swell propagating into McMurdo Sound from storm sources beyond Antarctica, and high-energy, locally-sourced, short-period (<10 s) sea swell, in the 4 days before the fast ice break-up and associated ice-shelf calving and rifting. This suggests that sea swell should be studied further as a proximal cause of ice-shelf calving and rifting; if proven, it suggests that ice-shelf stability is tele-connected with far-field storm conditions at lower latitudes, adding a global dimension to the physics of ice-shelf break-up.

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian H. R. Rosier ◽  
G. Hilmar Gudmundsson

Abstract. An extensive network of GPS sites on the Filchner–Ronne Ice Shelf and adjoining ice streams shows strong tidal modulation of horizontal ice flow at a range of frequencies. A particularly strong (horizontal) response is found at the fortnightly (Msf) frequency. Since this tidal constituent is absent in the (vertical) tidal forcing, this observation implies the action of some non-linear mechanism. Another striking aspect is the strong amplitude of the flow perturbation, causing a periodic reversal in the direction of ice shelf flow in some areas and a 10 %–20 % change in speed at grounding lines. No model has yet been able to reproduce the quantitative aspects of the observed tidal modulation across the entire Filchner–Ronne Ice Shelf. The cause of the tidal ice flow response has, therefore, remained an enigma, indicating a serious limitation in our current understanding of the mechanics of large-scale ice flow. A further limitation of previous studies is that they have all focused on isolated regions and interactions between different areas have, therefore, not been fully accounted for. Here, we conduct the first large-scale ice flow modelling study to explore these processes using a viscoelastic rheology and realistic geometry of the entire Filchner–Ronne Ice Shelf, where the best observations of tidal response are available. We evaluate all relevant mechanisms that have hitherto been put forward to explain how tides might affect ice shelf flow and compare our results with observational data. We conclude that, while some are able to generate the correct general qualitative aspects of the tidally induced perturbations in ice flow, most of these mechanisms must be ruled out as being the primary cause of the observed long-period response. We find that only tidally induced lateral migration of grounding lines can generate a sufficiently strong long-period Msf response on the ice shelf to match observations. Furthermore, we show that the observed horizontal short-period semidiurnal tidal motion, causing twice-daily flow reversals at the ice front, can be generated through a purely elastic response to basin-wide tidal perturbations in the ice shelf slope. This model also allows us to quantify the effect of tides on mean ice flow and we find that the Filchner–Ronne Ice Shelf flows, on average, ∼ 21 % faster than it would in the absence of large ocean tides.


2021 ◽  
Vol 276 ◽  
pp. 02030
Author(s):  
Wang Yanan ◽  
Tang Guangwu ◽  
Liu Haiming ◽  
Wang Fujie ◽  
Chen yuan

In order to study the influence of far-field long-period seismic waves on high-pier and long-span continuous beam bridge, taking a high-pier and long-span continuous beam bridge with span arrangement of (95+170+95) m as an example, a numerical analysis model is established based on finite element software. According to the established wave selection criterion, 10 far-field long-period seismic records and 10 ordinary seismic records are selected from the strong earthquake record database. Using nonlinear time history analysis method, the difference of seismic response of long-span continuous beam bridge with isolated high piers under the action of ordinary ground motion and far-field long-period ground motion is studied. The results show that compared with the ordinary ground motion, the seismic response of long-span continuous beam bridge with isolated high piers is obviously increased under the action of long-period ground motion in the far field. When building isolated long-span bridges in areas with great influence of long-period ground motion in the far field, attention should be paid to the adverse effects caused by the frequency spectrum characteristics of ground motion.


1992 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 151-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Krimmel ◽  
D. C. Trabant

Hubbard Glacier advanced across the entrance of Russell Fiord in May 1986, transforming the fiord into a lake, which began filling with fresh water. The dam failed in October 1986. The calving terminus of Hubbard Glacier has been mapped with increasing frequency for nearly a century. A mapping interval of a few years establishes that the terminus has made a slow, but accelerating, advance. Recently the terminus has been mapped several times per month using vertical photography, ground surveys, and time-lapse cameras. At this frequency of observation, the terminus position is found to fluctuate seasonally. These seasonal fluctuations are compared with those of Columbia Glacier, where a longer detailed record is available. Although Columbia Glacier is now undergoing a drastic retreat, it continues to have seasonal length changes similar to those it experienced before the retreat began. The lengths of both Columbia and Hubbard Glaciers are extended in the spring, and retracted in the fall. The relatively long period of record for Columbia Glacier shows consistent seasonal variation in length and, when compared with the short period of record for Hubbard Glacier, suggests that there are consistent seasonal differences in length at Hubbard also. The lower Hubbard Glacier diverges, feeding ice into Disenchantment Bay and Russell Fiord, and advances and retreats synchronously over most of its width. The tidal current, which passes through the 250–500 m wide entrance to Russell Fiord, does not affect the seasonal advance and retreat in that area significantly.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (12) ◽  
pp. 7309-7327 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Hibert ◽  
C. P. Stark ◽  
G. Ekström

Abstract. We carry out a combined analysis of the short- and long-period seismic signals generated by the devastating Oso-Steelhead landslide that occurred on 22 March 2014. The seismic records show that the Oso-Steelhead landslide was not a single slope failure, but a succession of multiple failures distinguished by two major collapses that occurred approximately three minutes apart. The first generated long-period surface waves that were recorded at several proximal stations. We invert these long-period signals for the forces acting at the source, and obtain estimates of the first failure runout and kinematics, as well as its mass after calibration against the mass-center displacement estimated from remote-sensing imagery. Short-period analysis of both events suggests that the source dynamics of the second are more complex than the first. No distinct long-period surface waves were recorded for the second failure, which prevents inversion for its source parameters. However, by comparing the seismic energy of the short-period waves generated by both events we are able to estimate the volume of the second. Our analysis suggests that the volume of the second failure is about 15–30% of the total landslide volume, which is in agreement with ground observations.


Geosciences ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergei Abramenkov ◽  
Nikolaï M. Shapiro ◽  
Ivan Koulakov ◽  
Ilyas Abkadyrov

Gorely is one of the most active volcanoes in Kamchatka with a rich magmatic and eruptive history reflected in its composite structure. In 2013–2014, a temporary network of 20 seismic stations was installed on Gorely for one year. During the four months of its high degassing rate, seismic activity was mostly expressed in the form of a long-period (LP) seismic tremor. In this study, we have developed a workflow based on the combination of back-projection (BP), cluster analysis, and matched-filter (MF) methods. By applying it to continuous seismic records for the study period, we were able to identify discrete LP events within the tremor sequence automatically and individually investigate their properties. A catalog obtained using the BP detection algorithm consist of 1741 high-energy events. Cluster analysis revealed that the entire variety of LP earthquakes in this catalog could be grouped into five families, which are sequentially organized in time. Utilizing templates of these families in the MF search resulted in the complementary catalog of 80,615 low-energy events. The long-term occurrence of highly repetitive LP events in the same location may correspond to resonating conduits behaving in response to the high-pressure gases flowing from the decompressed magma chamber up to the volcano’s crater.


2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1265-1273 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Hibert ◽  
C. P. Stark ◽  
G. Ekström

Abstract. We carry out a combined analysis of the short- and long-period seismic signals generated by the devastating Oso-Steelhead landslide that occurred on 22 March 2014. The seismic records show that the Oso-Steelhead landslide was not a single slope failure, but a succession of multiple failures distinguished by two major collapses that occurred approximately 3 min apart. The first generated long-period surface waves that were recorded at several proximal stations. We invert these long-period signals for the forces acting at the source, and obtain estimates of the first failure runout and kinematics, as well as its mass after calibration against the mass-centre displacement estimated from remote-sensing imagery. Short-period analysis of both events suggests that the source dynamics of the second event is more complex than the first. No distinct long-period surface waves were recorded for the second failure, which prevents inversion for its source parameters. However, by comparing the seismic energy of the short-period waves generated by both events we are able to estimate the volume of the second. Our analysis suggests that the volume of the second failure is about 15–30% of the total landslide volume, giving a total volume mobilized by the two events between 7 × 106 and 10 × 106 m3, in agreement with estimates from ground observations and lidar mapping.


1992 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 151-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Krimmel ◽  
D. C. Trabant

Hubbard Glacier advanced across the entrance of Russell Fiord in May 1986, transforming the fiord into a lake, which began filling with fresh water. The dam failed in October 1986. The calving terminus of Hubbard Glacier has been mapped with increasing frequency for nearly a century. A mapping interval of a few years establishes that the terminus has made a slow, but accelerating, advance. Recently the terminus has been mapped several times per month using vertical photography, ground surveys, and time-lapse cameras. At this frequency of observation, the terminus position is found to fluctuate seasonally. These seasonal fluctuations are compared with those of Columbia Glacier, where a longer detailed record is available. Although Columbia Glacier is now undergoing a drastic retreat, it continues to have seasonal length changes similar to those it experienced before the retreat began. The lengths of both Columbia and Hubbard Glaciers are extended in the spring, and retracted in the fall. The relatively long period of record for Columbia Glacier shows consistent seasonal variation in length and, when compared with the short period of record for Hubbard Glacier, suggests that there are consistent seasonal differences in length at Hubbard also. The lower Hubbard Glacier diverges, feeding ice into Disenchantment Bay and Russell Fiord, and advances and retreats synchronously over most of its width. The tidal current, which passes through the 250–500 m wide entrance to Russell Fiord, does not affect the seasonal advance and retreat in that area significantly.


1977 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 69-74

The discussion was separated into 3 different topics according to the separation made by the reviewer between the different periods of waves observed in the sun :1) global modes (long period oscillations) with predominantly radial harmonic motion.2) modes with large coherent - wave systems but not necessarily global excitation (300 s oscillation).3) locally excited - short period waves.


2003 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 225-237
Author(s):  
K. J. GRANT ◽  
ROBERTS A. ◽  
D. N. JAMIESON ◽  
B. ROUT ◽  
C. CHER

Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 156 (2) ◽  
pp. 665-675
Author(s):  
Adrian Rothenfluh ◽  
Marla Abodeely ◽  
Jeffrey L Price ◽  
Michael W Young

Abstract In genetic screens for Drosophila mutations affecting circadian locomotion rhythms, we have isolated six new alleles of the timeless (tim) gene. Two of these mutations cause short-period rhythms of 21–22 hr in constant darkness, and four result in long-period cycles of 26–28 hr. All alleles are semidominant. Studies of the genetic interactions of some of the tim alleles with period-altering period (per) mutations indicate that these interactions are close to multiplicative; a given allele changes the period length of the genetic background by a fixed percentage, rather than by a fixed number of hours. The timL1 allele was studied in molecular detail. The long behavioral period of timL1 is reflected in a lengthened molecular oscillation of per and tim RNA and protein levels. The lengthened period is partly caused by delayed nuclear translocation of TIML1 protein, shown directly by immunocytochemistry and indirectly by an analysis of the phase response curve of timL1 flies.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document