Amery Ice Shelf

Amery Ice Shelf

Amery Ice Shelf, located in East Antarctica, is one of the largest ice shelves in the world, covering an area of approximately 62,000 square kilometers. It extends from the coast of East Antarctica into the Southern Ocean, and its thickness varies from 1,000 to 2,500 meters. In 2001, scientists from the Australian Antarctic Division drilled two holes through the ice shelf and lowered specially designed seafloor sampling and photographic equipment to the underlying seafloor. Through the study of the fossil composition of the recovered sediment samples, scientists have estimated that a major recession of the Amery Ice Shelf to at least 80 km landward of its current location may have happened during the Mid-Holocene climatic optimum approximately 5,700 years ago. Today, the Amery Ice Shelf is in a state of steady calving, with large icebergs breaking off from its front every few years. This process is driven by a combination of factors, including climate change, ocean currents, and the underlying geology of the region. The calving process is closely monitored by scientists, who use satellite imagery and field observations to track changes in the ice shelf's extent and thickness. The Amery Ice Shelf is an important location for scientific research, with numerous studies focused on understanding its dynamics and the implications of its melting on global sea levels. Scientists from around the world conduct fieldwork on the ice shelf, deploying instruments to measure its thickness, temperature, and movement.