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Antarctica's Wrinkles - How the Ronne Ice Shelf Is Affecting Antarctica's Ice Volumes

The Ronne Ice Shelf is the largest area in Antarctica with a thickness of about 14 kilometers. Named after the Scottish botanist Edith Ronne, it was discovered by British explorers in 1908 and claimed by Spain (1913), Germany (1920), and Italy (1935).

In 1940, an Italian and British expedition discovered a huge area of ice in front of Ronne. A United States Antarctic Program (USASpending) team claimed it, along with several other small islands. The British claimed it to be the fourth largest ice shelf in Antarctica. It is very unstable, with cracks, and has shifted position numerous times.

When the British expedition found its place, they renamed it Antarctica's South Land, since it appeared to rise to the south from Ronne. The ice shelves that surround Ronne are named for their continental shelf in Antarctica.

The ice shelves that surround Ronne are thinning rapidly due to melting. This is bad news for Antarctica's glaciers because they lose most of their ice in the summer and more meltwater during the winter season.

There have been several theories put forward to explain why the ice shelves around Ronne have been weakening recently, such as changing atmospheric conditions and changes in Earth orbit. One theory states that warmer temperatures caused the ice shelves in the area to weaken, while a separate theory indicates a change in winds over Antarctica may be responsible.

Whatever the cause of Ronne's weakening, scientists believe the rift valley in front of Ronne is causing the largest part of it. The rift valley is located at an area of high pressure and the large glacier behind Ronne is causing the pressure to shift from north to south.

What is causing the rift valley? Although scientists can't pinpoint exactly how a rift valley causes the loss of ice shelves, one study says the rift valley causes a weak spot in the ice that allows the ice to flow into the rift valley.

Scientists also suggest that a weakening ice shelf is also causing the rift valley by contributing to increased atmospheric pressure, which could cause the ice to sink into the rift valley. Some studies say that the increase in atmospheric pressure increases the speed of ice melt and decreases the melting rate.

If you would like to see some pictures of Ronne's rift valley, you can go to NASA and click on "Ice Shelf and Rift Valley" or visit their website. You will also find out what you need to know about the rift valley. It is a very fascinating phenomenon that is also important for keeping Antarctica's glaciers in working order.