Ross ice shelf sea temperatures.
Two temperature profiles recorded by a sensitive bathythermograph at the Ross Ice Shelf Project site (82 degrees 22.5'S, 168 degrees 37.5'W) are presented. From the shape of the profiles it is concluded that an inflow of water at intermediate depths provides a source of heat to drive a regime in which ice is melted from the interface at a depth of 360 meters. Melting maintains the temperature of a thick layer under the ice at about -2.14 degrees C, close to the ambient freezing temperature. A very well mixed layer about 35 meters thick was found at the seabed.
Gilmour
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