Past and future deformation of the Ross Ice Shelf

The response of the Antarctic ice sheet to global warming will have a big impact on global sea level, ocean circulation and climate. The internal temperature of the ice and the alignment of ice crystals are key controls on the rate of ice flow towards the ocean. We will send sound waves through the ice to a string of sensors in a borehole in the Ross Ice Shelf to map patterns of temperature and crystal alignment. These data will allow us to make much better predictions of how the Antarctic ice sheet will respond to global warming.