Collaborative Research in IPY: Abrupt Environmental Change in the Larsen Ice Shelf System, a Multidisciplinary Approach - Marine and Quaternary Geosciences

IPY 中的合作研究：拉森冰架系统中的突变环境变化，一种多学科方法 - 海洋和第四纪地球科学

• 批准号: 0732554
• 负责人: Scott Ishman
• 金额: $ 38.25万
• 依托单位: Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-10-01 至 2014-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0732554&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; IPY; Abrupt; Environmental

AbstractThis award supports a research cruise to perform geologic studies in the area under and surrounding the former Larsen B ice shelf, on the Antarctic Peninsula. The ice shelf's disintegration in 2002 coupled with the unique marine geology of the area make it possible to understand the conditions leading to ice shelf collapse. Bellwethers of climate change that reflect both oceanographic and atmospheric conditions, ice shelves also hold back glacial flow in key areas of the polar regions. Their collapse results in glacial surging and could cause rapid rise in global sea levels. This project characterizes the Larsen ice shelf's history and conditions leading to its collapse by determining: 1) the size of the Larsen B during warmer climates and higher sea levels back to the Eemian interglacial, 125,000 years ago; 2) the configuration of the Antarctic Peninsula ice sheet during the LGM and its subsequent retreat; 3) the causes of the Larsen B's stability through the Holocene, during which other shelves have come and gone; 4) the controls on the dynamics of ice shelf margins, especially the roles of surface melting and oceanic processes, and 5) the changes in sediment flux, both biogenic and lithogenic, after large ice shelf breakup. The broader impacts include graduate and undergraduate education through research projects and workshops; outreach to the general public through a television documentary and websites, and international collaboration with scientists from Belgium, Spain, Argentina, Canada, Germany and the UK. The work also has important societal relevance. Improving our understanding of how ice shelves behave in a warming world will improve models of sea level rise. The project is supported under NSF's International Polar Year (IPY) research emphasis area on "Understanding Environmental Change in Polar Regions".

摘要这一奖项支持一项研究巡游，以在南极半岛的前拉尔森B冰架下进行地质研究。冰架在2002年的瓦解，再加上该地区的独特海洋地质，使得了解导致冰架崩溃的条件。气候变化的铃铛既反映海洋学和大气条件，冰架也阻碍了极地地区的关键区域中的冰川流动。它们的塌陷导致冰川涌动，并可能导致全球海平面迅速上升。该项目的特征是Larsen Ice货架的历史和条件，导致其倒塌，通过确定：1）在温暖的气候和更高的海平面和更高的海平面回到125，000年前的EEMIAN间冰期； 2）在LGM期间，南极半岛冰盖的配置及其随后的撤退； 3）拉尔森B通过全新世稳定的原因，在此期间其他货架都去了； 4）对冰架边缘动力学的控制，尤其是表面熔化和海洋过程的作用，以及5）在大冰架破裂之后，沉积物通量的变化（生物源和岩性）的变化。 更广泛的影响包括通过研究项目和研讨会的研究生和本科教育；通过电视纪录片和网站向公众推广，以及与比利时，西班牙，阿根廷，加拿大，德国和英国的科学家的国际合作。这项工作还具有重要的社会意义。提高我们对冰架在变暖世界中如何行为的理解将改善海平面上升的模式。该项目得到了NSF国际极性年（IPY）研究重点领域的支持，该项目“了解极地地区的环境变化”。