Talk Precedes Creation Of Largest-Ever Recorded Ice-Berg

As glaciologists, climatologists and oceanographers await an anticipated break in an Antarctic ice shelf, set to create one of the largest icebergs ever recorded – around one quarter of the size of Wales – staff and students at Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences are eagerly anticipating a talk on the subject from a member of the British Antarctic Survey. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Hilmar Gudmundsson from the British Antarctic Survey discusses “Ocean-induced thinning of Antarctic Ice Shelves and the impact on the ice flow of the Antarctic Ice Sheet” at 6.00 on February 2 at 6pm in the Main Arts Lecture Theatre. This lecture to the University’s students and academics may be of interest to the public given the current fate of the Larsen C ice shelf, which is within 20 kilometres of breaking free. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dr Mattias Green, a Reader in Physical Oceanography at Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences, who organised the talk said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is difficult to predict the effects of such a large break in the ice sheet. What’s been seen in the past is that glaciers have speeded their advance to the sea, as their path is no longer blocked by a large ice sheet, and this has had an effect on the sea level. The ice sheet itself will eventually be carried away by currents, but its track is not known as shallows in these waters are not well mapped.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He added: “Professor Gudmundsson has an incredible track record in research on ice-ocean interactions. He has spent quite some time on the Antarctic Ice sheets collecting data collecting data and using it to validate his numerical models. He also comes back with some amazing photographs, so there should be something for all in his talk.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​