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[[File:Icesheet-Map.jpg|300px|left]]
[[File:Wesley LeMasurier.png|250px|left]]
The '''[[West Antarctic Ice Sheet]]''' (WAIS) is the segment of the continental [[ice sheet]] that covers [[Westarctica]] and the portion of [[Antarctica]] on the side of the [[Transantarctic Mountains]] which lies in the Western Hemisphere. The WAIS is classified as a marine-based ice sheet, meaning that its bed lies well below sea level and its edges flow into floating [[ice-shelf|ice shelves]]. The WAIS is bounded by the [[Ross Ice Shelf]], the [[Ronne Ice Shelf]], and outlet [[glacier]]s that drain into the [[Amundsen Sea]].
'''[[Wesley E. LeMasurier]]''' is an igneous petrologist/volcanologist who specializes in the study of Cenozoic volcanoes in the [[Marie Byrd Land]] region of [[Antarctica]]. He was responsible for geological research around many of [[Westarctica]]'s volcanic mountains. [[Mount LeMasurier]] was named in his honor.


It is estimated that the volume of the [[Antarctic ice sheet]] is about 25.4 million km3 (6.1 million cu mi), and the WAIS contains just under 10% of this, or 2.2 million km3 (530,000 cu mi). The weight of the ice has caused the underlying rock to sink by between 0.5 and 1 kilometer (0.31 and 0.62 miles) in a process known as isostatic depression.
Dr. LeMasurier's work includes studying the origin and evolution of Cenozoic volcanic rocks, the nature of the tectonic environment of volcanism, and the volcanic record of glacial history. In 1990, after conducting a survey of [[Mount Berlin]], he declared the volcano to be "potentially active." Later, in 1994, during field work around [[Mount Siple]], Dr. LeMasurier knocked off a piece of rock from the mountain and sent it to Ruth Siple, the widow of [[Paul A. Siple]], for whom the mountain was named.


When [[ice]] reaches the coast, it either calves or continues to flow outward onto the water. The result is a large, floating ice shelf affixed to the continent.
'''([[Wesley E. LeMasurier|Full Article...]])'''
 
'''([[West Antarctic Ice Sheet|Full Article...]])'''

Latest revision as of 16:11, 17 October 2025

Wesley LeMasurier.png

Wesley E. LeMasurier is an igneous petrologist/volcanologist who specializes in the study of Cenozoic volcanoes in the Marie Byrd Land region of Antarctica. He was responsible for geological research around many of Westarctica's volcanic mountains. Mount LeMasurier was named in his honor.

Dr. LeMasurier's work includes studying the origin and evolution of Cenozoic volcanic rocks, the nature of the tectonic environment of volcanism, and the volcanic record of glacial history. In 1990, after conducting a survey of Mount Berlin, he declared the volcano to be "potentially active." Later, in 1994, during field work around Mount Siple, Dr. LeMasurier knocked off a piece of rock from the mountain and sent it to Ruth Siple, the widow of Paul A. Siple, for whom the mountain was named.

(Full Article...)