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Substantial changes in the coastline of Antarctica revealed by satellite imagery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2009

J. G. Ferrigno
Affiliation:
US Geological Survey, 927 National Center, Reston, VA 22092, USA
W. G. Gould
Affiliation:
Photo Science Inc, Gaithersburg, MD 20879, USA

Abstract

Noaa Avhrr and Landsat MSS imagery acquired between January and November 1986 has shown substantial changes in the Antarctic coastline near the Filchner Ice Shelf, Larsen Ice Shelf and Thwaites Glacier. In the Filchner Ice Shelf area some 11,500 km of ice calved from mid-April onward. In the Larsen Ice Shelf area two large bergs calved between February and August. The combined volume of ice from these two events equals approximately three years' normal calving from the entire Antarctic coastline. In the Thwaites Glacier area several changes appear to have occurred at the base of Thwaites Iceberg Tongue and Thwaites Glacier Tongue.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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