Abbot Ice Shelf facts for kids
The Abbot Ice Shelf is a giant floating sheet of ice found in Antarctica. It's like a huge, flat ice island that is still connected to the land. This incredible ice shelf stretches for about 250 miles (400 kilometers) long and 40 miles (64 kilometers) wide. That's a really long distance!
It borders a part of Antarctica called Eights Coast. This vast ice shelf reaches from a place called Cape Waite all the way to Pfrogner Point.
Contents
What is an Ice Shelf?
An ice shelf is a thick, floating platform of ice. It forms where a glacier or ice sheet flows down to a coastline and onto the ocean surface. Ice shelves are still connected to the land ice. They float on the water, but they are attached to the land on one side.
Ice shelves are very important for the planet. They act like a brake for the glaciers behind them. They slow down the flow of ice from the land into the ocean. This helps to control how much sea level rises.
Where is the Abbot Ice Shelf Located?
The Abbot Ice Shelf is located in West Antarctica. It is part of the huge continent of Antarctica. Several islands are found along or within this ice shelf.
These islands include Thurston Island, which lies along the northern edge of its western part. Other islands like Sherman, Carpenter, Dustin, Johnson, McNamara, Farwell, and Dendtler are also partly or fully inside the ice shelf.
How Was the Abbot Ice Shelf Discovered?
The Abbot Ice Shelf was first seen a long time ago. Members of the U.S. Antarctic Service (USAS) spotted it in February 1940. They saw it during flights from their ship named Bear.
Later, its western part was mapped more clearly. This happened using air photos taken by the U.S. Navy (USN). These photos were part of an expedition called Operation Highjump in 1946–47.
The full size and shape of the ice shelf were finally mapped in 1966. This mapping was done by the USGS. They used more air photos taken by the U.S. Navy.
Who Was James Lloyd Abbot, Jr.?
The Abbot Ice Shelf was named after a special person. His name was Rear Admiral James Lloyd Abbot, Jr.. He was a very important officer in the U.S. Navy.
Rear Admiral Abbot was the Commanding Officer of the U.S. Naval Support Force in Antarctica. He held this important job from February 1967 to June 1969. The US-ACAN decided to name the ice shelf in his honor. This was to recognize his contributions to exploring and supporting operations in Antarctica.
