Evolving Instability of the Scar Inlet Ice Shelf based on Sequential Landsat Images Spanning 2005–2018

Abstract

Following the large-scale disintegration of the Larsen B Ice Shelf (LBIS) in 2002, ice flow velocities for its remnants and tributary glaciers began to increase. In this study, we used sequential Landsat images spanning 2005-2018 to produce detailed maps of the ice flow velocities and surface features for the Scar Inlet Ice Shelf (SIIS). Our results indicate that the ice flow velocities for the SIIS and its tributary glaciers (Flask and Leppard Glaciers) have substantially increased since 2005. Surface features, such as rifts and crevasses, have also substantially increased in both scope and scale and are particularly evident in the region between the Leppard Glacier and the Jason Peninsula. Several indicators-including the acceleration of ice flows, the rapid growth of major surface rifts, the heavily enhanced surface crevasses, and the dynamic position of the ice front-point to the evolving instability of the SIIS. These same indicators describe the conditions for the LBIS leading up to its 2002 collapse. To date, however, the SIIS remains intact. The formation of fast ice supporting the ice shelf front, combined with moderate mean summer temperatures, may be preventing or delaying its collapse.

Observations of Continuous Instability for Scar Inlet Ice Shelf, Antarctic Peninsula

“…Scar Inlet Ice Shelf is located between the Weddell Sea and the region from northern Robertson Island to southern Jason Peninsula, is the remnant part of the Larsen B Ice Shelf after its calving event in 2002. After that, the two rift calving events in 2006 and 2008 makes the Scar Inlet Ice Shelf experience substantial losses of ice area, approximately 650 km 2 and 140 km 2 , respectively (Scambos et al, 2008;Qiao et al, 2020). Figure 1 shows the Landsat image of the Scar Inlet Ice Shelf and its tributary glaciers captured on 18 December 2002.…”

“…After that, the remnant Larsen B Ice Shelf, * Corresponding author namely the Scar Inlet Ice Shelf has experienced two calving events in early 2006 and late 2007/early 2008 (Khazendar et al, 2015). The collapse of the Larsen B Ice Shelf has led to a decrease in backstress, a flow acceleration of the ice shelf and its tributaries, a decline in surface elevation, a retreat in ice front position, and a substantial increase in both scope and scale of the rifts and crevasses (Glasser and Scambos, 2008;Shepherd et al, 2010;Shuman et al, 2011;De Rydt et al, 2015;Khazendar et al, 2015;Wuite et al, 2015;Chen et al, 2018;Rott et al, 2018;Qiao et al, 2020). Ice shelves around the Larsen A and Larsen B ice shelves such as the Larsen C Ice Shelf and the Seal Nunataks Ice Shelf are also affected by these calving events (Shuman et al, 2016;Han et al, 2019).…”

“…In this paper, we provide a continuum observation for the previous work (Qiao et al, 2020), the latest dynamic and structural behaviours of Scar Inlet Ice Shelf were investigated, including the ice front positions, rifts propagation, and ice velocities based on sequential Landsat satellite images. The longterm observations of the changes in the frontal position and surface features and ice velocities in time and space up to 2020, all of these indicate the evolving instability of the Scar Inlet Ice Shelf.…”

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Derived 3d Model Evaluation Based on Icesat-2 for Ice Surface Micro-Topography Analysis in East Antarctica

“…As a new lightweight and available survey technology at very reasonable cost, UAV modelling is easy and quick to deploy and retrieve (Küng et al, 2011). The surface micro-topographic features of glaciers are more possibly reflected on high-solution orthophotos together with digital surface models (DSMs) derived from UAV, such as melt ponds, blue ice, crevasses and increased ice velocity (Qiao et al, 2020;Miles et al, 2018). Traditionally, using ground control points (GCPs) could ensure and improve the accuracy of UAV reconstruction during the geo-localization process.…”

Modelling of Glacier and Ice Sheet Micro-Topography Based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Data, Antarctica

“…However, the interaction between climate and Antarctic ice sheet is not completely understood yet, such as glacier dynamic, mass balance, hydrology and iceberg calving. To some extent, the effects of these processes are possibly reflected in the surface micro-topographic features of glaciers, such as melt ponds, blue ice, crevasses and increased ice velocity (Qiao et al, 2020;Liang et al, 2019;Miles et al, 2018). Thus, analysis of glacier surface micro-topography is of significant importance for polar research.…”