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Difference between revisions of "Pine Island Glacier"
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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. | ||