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: 0732614
• 负责人: Julia Wellner
• 金额: $ 26.9万
• 依托单位: University of Houston
• 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 2015-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0732614&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".

摘要该奖项支持一艘研究巡航，在南极半岛前拉森 B 冰架下方及其周围地区进行地质研究。 2002 年冰架的崩解加上该地区独特的海洋地质使我们能够了解导致冰架崩塌的条件。冰架是反映海洋和大气条件的气候变化的风向标，也阻碍了极地地区关键地区的冰川流动。它们的崩塌导致冰川涌动，并可能导致全球海平面迅速上升。该项目通过确定以下因素来描述拉森冰架的历史和导致其崩塌的条件：1）125,000 年前，气候变暖和海平面升高时拉森 B 冰架的大小，可追溯到埃米亚间冰期； 2）末次盛冰期及其后的消退期间南极半岛冰盖的形态； 3）拉森B在全新世期间保持稳定的原因，在此期间其他架子来来去去； 4）对冰架边缘动力学的控制，特别是表面融化和海洋过程的作用，以及5）大冰架破裂后沉积物通量的变化，包括生物成因和岩石成因。 更广泛的影响包括通过研究项目和研讨会进行研究生和本科生教育；通过电视纪录片和网站以及与比利时、西班牙、阿根廷、加拿大、德国和英国科学家的国际合作向公众进行宣传。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行为方式的理解将改善海平面上升模型。该项目得到了 NSF 国际极地年 (IPY) 研究重点领域“了解极地环境变化”的支持。