Fimbulisen Ice Shelf Observatory (FIO)
One of the most serious consequences of global warming is sea level rise. Future sea level rise is influenced by the melting of the Antarctic ice sheet, but there is particularly great uncertainty associated with the melting of the ice shelf, the ocean’s influence on it, and the ice shelf’s response. We need to find answers to how stable the current cold regime in the area is, and what the potential drivers of change are.
Fimbul is the largest ice shelf in Queen Maud Land. During the International Polar Year in 2009, NP and partners drilled and established sites for measurements of mass balance and ocean properties on and below the ice shelf. The instrumentation was expected to last 5–10 years, but is still measuring. Through TONe, we will now drill again and replace the instrumentation in order to continue the time series – the longest for such measurements. This means a demanding 50-day remote field operation, 15 tons of research equipment and a tracked vehicle traverse of 2500 km at 12 km/h.
- Instrumentation at two locations; preliminary studies for a third location
- Continue and develop time series:
- Ice shelf mass balance
- Warm water inflow
- Turbulence measurements in the ice shelf-ocean boundary layer
- Instruments for future glider campaign under the ice
- In-situ measurements in boreholes during establishment
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