Glaciological and oceanographic calculations of the mass balance and oxygen isotope ratio of a melting ice shelf.

Abstract

Glaciological estimates of the ice supply to George VI Ice Shelf are obtained by integrating the accumulation over the catchment. The basal melt (or possible shelf thickening) rates for the ice shelf are calculated by blancing the accumulation with calving and melting. The mean oxygen isotope composition of recent accumulation on the catchment is determined by using accumulation and isotope data, supplemented by temperature measurements and a close empirical relationship between isotope ratio and temperature.-from Authors