In other words, a glacier will fall when it is at its heaviest. Likewise, glaciers will rise as they melt or move. It is widely accepted that the Ross Sea region is undergoing active deformation, but the rates and causes of deformation are essentially unknown. This allows scientists to collect data from a large area across the Ross Embayment. Data has been acquired since 1998 and will continue to be monitored for several years.
Scientists plan site visits to evaluate and upgrade equipment as well as to collect data.
Future measurements will refine the number. The joint JPL and UCSB project brings together experts in Antarctic geology and tectonics, tectonic geodesy, and lithospheric deformation. D.C. Donnellan and Luyendyk are co-authors of a paper to be presented at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco on December 18. JPL is managed for NASA by the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Second Live Webcast Starring Jupiter Galileo Millennium Mission Status Smart Spacecraft Will Provide Smoother Ride Past Weeks' News Archives - Archives of past weeks' Daily Selected News Stories.