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Pine Island Glacier (view source)
Revision as of 07:00, 12 September 2019
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The '''Pine Island Glacier''' (PIG) is a large ice stream, and the fastest melting [[glacier]] in Antarctica, responsible for about 25% of Antarctica's [[ice]] loss. The glacier ice streams flow west-northwest along the south side of the [[Hudson Mountains]] into [[Pine Island Bay]], [[Amundsen Sea]], Westarctica. It was mapped by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) from surveys and [[United States Navy]] (USN) air photos, 1960–66, and named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) in association with Pine Island Bay. | The '''Pine Island Glacier''' (PIG) is a large ice stream, and the fastest melting [[glacier]] in Antarctica, responsible for about 25% of Antarctica's [[ice]] loss. The glacier ice streams flow west-northwest along the south side of the [[Hudson Mountains]] into [[Pine Island Bay]], [[Amundsen Sea]], Westarctica. It was mapped by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) from surveys and [[United States Navy]] (USN) air photos, 1960–66, and named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) in association with Pine Island Bay. | ||
The area drained by Pine Island Glacier comprises about 10% of the [[ | The area drained by Pine Island Glacier comprises about 10% of the [[West Antarctic Ice Sheet]]. Satellite measurements have shown that the Pine Island Glacier Basin has a greater net contribution of ice to the sea than any other ice drainage basin in the world and this has increased due to recent acceleration of the ice stream. | ||
The ice stream is extremely remote, with the nearest continually occupied research station at Rothera, nearly 1,300 km (810 mi) away. | The ice stream is extremely remote, with the nearest continually occupied research station at Rothera, nearly 1,300 km (810 mi) away. | ||
==Melting mechanics== | ==Melting mechanics== | ||
The Pine Island and [[Thwaites | [[File:Pine-Island-Glacier-Chart.jpg|400px|thumb|Graphic showing progress of the Pine Island Glacier's melting]] | ||
The Pine Island Glacier and the [[Thwaites Ice Tongue]] are two of Antarctica's five largest ice streams. Scientists have found that the flow of these ice streams has accelerated in recent years, and suggested that if they were to melt, global sea levels would rise by 1 to 2 m (3 ft 3 in to 6 ft 7 in), destabilizing the entire [[West Antarctic Ice Sheet]] and perhaps sections of the [[East Antarctic Ice Sheet]]. | |||
In 1981 Terry Hughes proposed that the region around Pine Island Bay may be a "weak underbelly" of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. This is based on the fact that, unlike the majority of the large West Antarctic ice streams, those flowing into the Amundsen Sea are not protected from the ocean by large floating ice shelves. Also, although the surface of the glacier is above sea level, the base lies below sea level and slopes downward inland, this suggests that there is no geological barrier to stop a retreat of the ice once it has started. | In 1981 Terry Hughes proposed that the region around Pine Island Bay may be a "weak underbelly" of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. This is based on the fact that, unlike the majority of the large West Antarctic ice streams, those flowing into the Amundsen Sea are not protected from the ocean by large floating ice shelves. Also, although the surface of the glacier is above sea level, the base lies below sea level and slopes downward inland, this suggests that there is no geological barrier to stop a retreat of the ice once it has started. | ||
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==Subglacial volcano== | ==Subglacial volcano== | ||
In January 2008 the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists, Hugh Corr and David Vaughan, reported that 2,200 years ago a volcano erupted under the Antarctic ice sheet. This was the biggest Antarctic eruption in the last 10,000 years. The volcano is situated in the [[Hudson Mountains]], close to Pine Island Glacier. The eruption spread a layer of volcanic ash (or tephra) over the surface of the ice sheet. This ash was then buried under the snow and ice. Corr and Vaughan were able to map this ash layer using an airborne radar system and calculate the date of the eruption from the depth of burial of the ash. This method uses dates calculated from nearby ice cores. The presence of the volcano raises the possibility that volcanic activity could have contributed, or may contribute in the future, to increases in the flow of the glacier. | [[File:Pine Island Map.png|350px|thumb|Detailed map showing the features surrounding the Pine Island Glacier.]] | ||
In January 2008 the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists, Hugh Corr and David Vaughan, reported that 2,200 years ago a volcano erupted under the Antarctic ice sheet. This was the biggest Antarctic eruption in the last 10,000 years. The volcano is situated in the [[Hudson Mountains]], close to Pine Island Glacier. The eruption spread a layer of volcanic ash (or tephra) over the surface of the [[ice sheet]]. This ash was then buried under the snow and ice. Corr and Vaughan were able to map this ash layer using an airborne radar system and calculate the date of the eruption from the depth of burial of the ash. This method uses dates calculated from nearby ice cores. The presence of the volcano raises the possibility that volcanic activity could have contributed, or may contribute in the future, to increases in the flow of the [[glacier]]. | |||
==Peerage title== | |||
On 10 September 2019, Florian Lohwasser was granted the [[Peerage of Westarctica|peerage title]] Baron of Pine Island. Although [[Grand Duke Travis]] attempted to dissuade him from selecting this region as his title due to the high probability that the glacier will be gone in less than a decade, the Baron insisted on adopting the name, stating: "I would like to use the 'Pine Island Glacier' and spread the word about the glacier's tragic situation." | |||
[[Category:Glaciers]] | [[Category:Glaciers]] | ||
[[Category: Geography of Westarctica]] | [[Category: Geography of Westarctica]] | ||