Ice Flow of the Antarctic Ice Sheet

TitleIce Flow of the Antarctic Ice Sheet
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsRignot, E., Mouginot J., & Scheuchl B.
JournalScience
Volume333
Pagination1427-1430
Date Published09/2011
Type of ArticleArticle
ISSN0036-8075
KeywordsResearch - Physical Climate; Rignot Research Group
Abstract

We present a reference, comprehensive, high-resolution, digital mosaic of ice motion in Antarctica assembled from multiple satellite interferometric synthetic-aperture radar data acquired during the International Polar Year 2007 to 2009. The data reveal widespread, patterned, enhanced flow with tributary glaciers reaching hundreds to thousands of kilometers inland over the entire continent. This view of ice sheet motion emphasizes the importance of basal-slip-dominated tributary flow over deformation-dominated ice sheet flow, redefines our understanding of ice sheet dynamics, and has far-reaching implications for the reconstruction and prediction of ice sheet evolution.

DOI10.1126/science.1208336
ESS Associations
Research Area: 
Physical Climate
Research Lab: 
Rignot Research Group