Tidal and Thermal Stresses Drive Seismicity Along a Major Ross Ice Shelf Rift

S. D. Olinger, B. P. Lipovsky, D. A. Wiens, R. C. Aster, P. D. Bromirski, Z. Chen, P. Gerstoft, A. A. Nyblade, R. A. Stephen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Understanding deformation in ice shelves is necessary to evaluate the response of ice shelves to thinning. We study microseismicity associated with ice shelf deformation using nine broadband seismographs deployed near a rift on the Ross Ice Shelf. From December 2014 to November 2016, we detect 5,948 icequakes generated by rift deformation. Locations were determined for 2,515 events using a least squares grid-search and double-difference algorithms. Ocean swell, infragravity waves, and a significant tsunami arrival do not affect seismicity. Instead, seismicity correlates with tidal phase on diurnal time scales and inversely correlates with air temperature on multiday and seasonal time scales. Spatial variability in tidal elevation tilts the ice shelf, and seismicity is concentrated while the shelf slopes downward toward the ice front. During especially cold periods, thermal stress and embrittlement enhance fracture along the rift. We propose that thermal stress and tidally driven gravitational stress produce rift seismicity with peak activity in the winter.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6644-6652
Number of pages9
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume46
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 28 2019

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Geophysics
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)

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