NASA's Operation IceBridge Explores The Massive Getz Ice Shelf In West Antarctica

NASA's Operation IceBridge Mission surveyed and collected data over the Getz Ice Shelf in West Antarctica on Nov. 5, 2016. The agency aims to establish a record of how ice reacts to changes in the polar environment.

Scientists in West Antarctica collect data over the Getz Ice Shelf. @NASA_ICE studies changes in polar environment: https://t.co/7p1VbjF8rB pic.twitter.com/kUv5mboHDx

— NASA (@NASA) November 12, 2016

Nathan Kurtz, IceBridge project scientist and a sea ice researcher at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said that Getz is an ice shelf that has been experiencing some of the highest basal melt rates of the Antarctic ice shelves. The team of researchers has flown many times before at Getz Ice Shelf. With the past research, the scientists understand how the height of the ice surface changes over time, according to NASA.

In this new research, the scientists mapped the bathymetry, which is the shape and the depth of the seafloor under the ice shelf. They also mapped the ice surface and bedrock upstream of the grounding line.

The IceBridge mission has been to several flights since the start of 2016. Kurtz said that they are in good shape so far, having flown so many missions due to a combination of favorable weather, no major airplane issues and all instruments operating well. He further said that they are about four weeks into the campaign and it is possible they could tie the record of most flights flown with Operation IceBridge if things continue to go well.

The Getz Ice Shelf spans to more than 300 miles (500 km) in length and from 20 to 60 miles (30 to 100 km) in width. It borders the Hobbs and Bakutis Coasts of Marie Byrd Land between the Martin Peninsula and the McDonald Heights. Many big islands are wholly or partially embedded in the ice shelf.

It was mapped by the United States Geological Survey. It was also named after George F. Getz from Chicago, Illinois, who helped furnish the seaplane for the expedition.