In these images, obtained on May 20 (upper) and May 22 (lower), yellows and oranges show areas where temperatures are warmer, like open water or thin sea ice, while blues represent areas of colder temperature levels, like the thicker ice of the iceberg and ice rack. When less sea ice is present, ice shelves are more exposed to destabilizing wind and wave action.Future Implications for the Brunt Ice ShelfDespite the recent calving events, the rest of the Brunt is still holding on to the McDonald Ice Rumples. “As ice racks get smaller sized and smaller sized, they become more vulnerable to severe events that can, as in the case of the Glenzer/Conger Ice Shelf, lead to destabilization and total loss of the floating glacial ice area,” Shuman said.The Brunt continues to show fractures on its surface, such as Chasm 2 (west of these images), that are anticipated to play an ongoing function in the advancement of this rack.
In these images, obtained on May 20 (upper) and May 22 (lower), yellows and oranges show locations where temperature levels are warmer, like open water or thin sea ice, while blues represent locations of cooler temperatures, like the thicker ice of the iceberg and ice rack. When less sea ice is present, ice shelves are more exposed to destabilizing wind and wave action.Future Implications for the Brunt Ice ShelfDespite the recent calving events, the rest of the Brunt is still holding on to the McDonald Ice Rumples. “As ice shelves get smaller sized and smaller, they become more susceptible to extreme events that can, as in the case of the Glenzer/Conger Ice Shelf, lead to destabilization and overall loss of the drifting glacial ice area,” Shuman said.The Brunt continues to display fractures on its surface area, such as Chasm 2 (west of these images), that are anticipated to play an ongoing function in the development of this rack.