Seawater softening of suture zones inhibits fracture propagation in Antarctic ice shelves
oleh: Bernd Kulessa, Adam D. Booth, Martin O’Leary, Daniel McGrath, Edward C. King, Adrian J. Luckman, Paul R. Holland, Daniela Jansen, Suzanne L. Bevan, Sarah S. Thompson, Bryn Hubbard
| Format: | Article |
|---|---|
| Diterbitkan: | Nature Portfolio 2019-12-01 |
Deskripsi
Suture zones are abundant on Antarctic ice shelves and widely observed to impede fracture propagation. Here we show that fracture detainment is principally controlled by the zones’ enhanced seawater contents, reducing fracture-driving stresses by orders of magnitude and therefore greatly enhancing stability.