Fast recession of the northern Larsen Ice Shelf monitored by space images

Abstract

The rapid retreat and disintegration of the Larsen Ice Shelf sector extending north of Seal Nunataks (65° S), documented from the mid 1970s onwards by remote sensing, is presented and related to the Antarctic Peninsula climatic warming recorded over several past decades. A 1975 KOSMOS satellite photograph and a series of LANDSAT MSS and TM images taken in 1978, 1979, 1986, 1988 and 1989 were used to monitor the retreat of the ice shelf between Seal Nunataks and Prince Gustav Channel. The ice shelf has decreased by more than 30% during the period 1975–89 within the Christensen Island to Cape Longing region. Measurements of the ice front position carried out in the field during late 1991 indicate that the recession between Lindenberg Island and Sobral Peninsula is still continuing, in some places at a rate of up to 2.5 km a−1.