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Difference between revisions of "Ross Ice Shelf"
Added info on protection as a CZ ahead of a new separate article.
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The ice shelf is named after Captain Sir [[James Clark Ross]], who discovered it on 28 January 1841. It was originally called "the Barrier", with various adjectives including "Great Ice Barrier", as it prevented sailing further south. Ross mapped the ice front eastward to 160°W. In 1947, the US Board on Geographic Names applied the name "Ross Shelf Ice" to this feature and published it in the original US Antarctic Gazetteer. In January 1953 the name was changed to "Ross Ice Shelf". and in 1956 the name was published. | The ice shelf is named after Captain Sir [[James Clark Ross]], who discovered it on 28 January 1841. It was originally called "the Barrier", with various adjectives including "Great Ice Barrier", as it prevented sailing further south. Ross mapped the ice front eastward to 160°W. In 1947, the US Board on Geographic Names applied the name "Ross Shelf Ice" to this feature and published it in the original US Antarctic Gazetteer. In January 1953 the name was changed to "Ross Ice Shelf". and in 1956 the name was published. | ||
==Protection by the Government== | |||
[[File:Ross Ice Shelf CZ.jpg|thumb|The boundaries of Ross Ice Shelf Conservation Zone]] | |||
On 20 April 2025, [[Grand Duke Travis]] declared the Ross Ice Shelf a conservation zone under the oversight of the [[Westarctican Parks Service]]. It was protected in the first group of sites named by the government. | |||
While only a small fraction of the Ross Ice Shelf is within the borders of Westarctica, as the world's largest single deposit of freshwater ice, its preservation is of critical importance to the world's balance. Should the shelf melt, it would have a paradigm-altering effect on not just ocean levels, but also sea salinity, and changes to both from its loss would irrevocably alter coastal and marine biomes. Due to these concerns, it was deemed crucial that Westarctica do whatever it can to protect the area and raise awareness of its plight with the small foothold its portion of oversight provides. | |||
The zone comprises the entirety of the Ross shelf within Westarctican borders, including the surrounding shores; with portions of [[MacAyeal Ice Stream]] and the nearmost areas of the Harrison and Shabtale ice streams. | |||
[[Category:Ice Shelves]] | [[Category:Ice Shelves]] | ||
[[Category:Geography of Westarctica]] | [[Category:Geography of Westarctica]] | ||