Ice Shelf explores the critical role of these vast, floating ice platforms in our planet's climate system. These extensions of glaciers, found predominantly in Antarctica and Greenland, act as crucial buttresses, slowing the flow of land-based ice into the ocean. While their disintegration doesn't directly raise sea levels, their loss accelerates the discharge of grounded ice, significantly contributing to sea level rise. The book delves into processes such as basal melting and iceberg calving, fundamental to understanding ice shelf dynamics.
The book traces the evolution of our understanding of ice shelves, from early explorations to the sophisticated satellite observations of today. It emphasizes the social and economic implications of ice shelf loss, particularly for vulnerable coastal communities. Using diverse data sources, it examines changes in ice shelf extent and thickness, connecting glaciology, oceanography, and climatology. Ice Shelf presents a comprehensive yet accessible overview.
The book progresses logically, first introducing the fundamental properties of ice and ocean interactions. It then analyzes the processes controlling ice shelf mass balance, dedicating chapters to basal melting, surface melting, and iceberg calving. Finally, it discusses observed changes in Antarctica and Greenland and their implications for global sea level rise, providing a holistic view of these Earth Science giants.
