Prince Gustav Channel
Encyclopedia
The Prince Gustav Channel (63°50′S 58°15′W) was named in 1903 after Crown Prince Gustav of Sweden (later King Gustav V) by Otto Nordenskiöld
of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition
.
The channel is bounded on the west by the Antarctic Peninsula and on the east by James Ross Island
. It is about 130 kilometres (80.8 mi) long and ranges from 6 to 24 km (3.7 to 14.9 mi) wide.
On 27 February 1995, the British Antarctic Survey
(BAS) reported that an ice shelf
formerly blocking the channel had disintegrated. This ice shelf had spanned approximately 700 square kilometres (270.3 sq mi) prior to its disintegration.
In the area previously covered by the shelf, the channel's water depth is between 600 to 800 m (1,968.5 to 2,624.7 ft). Between February and March 2000, scientists collected sediment cores 5 to 6 m in length from the ocean floor. Carbon dating of organic material found in the sediment layers suggested that for a period between 2,000 to 5,000 years ago, much of the channel was seasonally open water. While icebergs were able to navigate the channel, ice rafted debris was deposited within the sediment.
It appears that before and after this period, the channel remained closed. The period when the channel was open coincides with a period of local warming supported by data gathered from land-based studies of lake sediments and ancient, abandoned penguin rookeries. With the return of colder conditions about 1900 years ago, the Prince Gustav Ice Shelf
reformed until its recent retreat and collapse.
Ice shelves are sensitive indicators of regional climatic change
, therefore recent warming in the vicinity of the Prince Gustav Channel is exceptional for at least the past 1900 years.
Otto Nordenskiöld
Nils Otto Gustaf Nordenskjöld was a Finnish and Swedish geologist, geographer, and polar explorer.-Biography:...
of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition
Swedish Antarctic Expedition
The Swedish Antarctic Expedition was led by Otto Nordenskjöld and Carl Anton Larsen.-Background:Otto Nordenskjöld, a Swedish geologist and geographer, organized and lead a scientific expedition of the Antarctic Peninsula...
.
The channel is bounded on the west by the Antarctic Peninsula and on the east by James Ross Island
James Ross Island
James Ross Island is a large island off the southeast side and near the northeastern extremity of Antarctic Peninsula, from which it is separated by Prince Gustav Channel. Rising to , it is irregularly shaped and extends in a north-south direction. It was charted in October 1903 by the Swedish...
. It is about 130 kilometres (80.8 mi) long and ranges from 6 to 24 km (3.7 to 14.9 mi) wide.
On 27 February 1995, the British Antarctic Survey
British Antarctic Survey
The British Antarctic Survey is the United Kingdom's national Antarctic operation and has an active role in Antarctic affairs. BAS is part of the Natural Environment Research Council and has over 400 staff. It operates five research stations, two ships and five aircraft in and around Antarctica....
(BAS) reported that an ice shelf
Ice shelf
An ice shelf is a thick, floating platform of ice that forms where a glacier or ice sheet flows down to a coastline and onto the ocean surface. Ice shelves are only found in Antarctica, Greenland and Canada. The boundary between the floating ice shelf and the grounded ice that feeds it is called...
formerly blocking the channel had disintegrated. This ice shelf had spanned approximately 700 square kilometres (270.3 sq mi) prior to its disintegration.
In the area previously covered by the shelf, the channel's water depth is between 600 to 800 m (1,968.5 to 2,624.7 ft). Between February and March 2000, scientists collected sediment cores 5 to 6 m in length from the ocean floor. Carbon dating of organic material found in the sediment layers suggested that for a period between 2,000 to 5,000 years ago, much of the channel was seasonally open water. While icebergs were able to navigate the channel, ice rafted debris was deposited within the sediment.
It appears that before and after this period, the channel remained closed. The period when the channel was open coincides with a period of local warming supported by data gathered from land-based studies of lake sediments and ancient, abandoned penguin rookeries. With the return of colder conditions about 1900 years ago, the Prince Gustav Ice Shelf
Prince Gustav Ice Shelf
Prince Gustav Ice Shelf was an ice shelf of more than 15 nautical miles extent occupying the south part of Prince Gustav Channel, including Rohss Bay, James Ross Island. Named by United Kingdom Antarctic Place-Names Committee in 1990 in association with the channel. The ice shelf has since...
reformed until its recent retreat and collapse.
Ice shelves are sensitive indicators of regional climatic change
Climatic Change
Climatic Change is a scientific journal published by Springer Science+Business Media. It deals with the problems of climatic variability and change...
, therefore recent warming in the vicinity of the Prince Gustav Channel is exceptional for at least the past 1900 years.