Description:
This book provides an overview of the current state of knowledge of Arctic ice shelves, ice islands and related features. Ice shelves are permanent areas of ice which float on the ocean surface while attached to the coast, and typically occur in very cold environments where perennial sea ice builds up to great thickness, and/or where glaciers flow off the land and are preserved on the ocean surface. These landscape features are relatively poorly studied in the Arctic, yet they are potentially highly sensitive indicators of climate change because they respond to changes in atmospheric, oceanic and glaciological conditions. Recent fracturing and breakup events of ice shelves in the Canadian High Arctic have attracted significant scientific and public attention, and produced large ice islands which may pose a risk to Arctic shipping and offshore infrastructure. Much has been published about Antarctic ice shelves, but to date there has not been a dedicated book about Arctic ice shelvesor ice islands. This book fills that gap.
Review Quotes: "The chapters are well illustrated with color and black-and-white images, maps, and graphs; thorough chapter references are also included. Given the rate of climate change across the Arctic, this book is an extremely timely contribution and will interest a range of individuals. It is especially important for those involved in research on the broad but critical Arctic cryosphere/ocean/atmosphere interactions. ... Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals." (J. T. Andrews, Choice, Vol. 55 (11), July, 2018)