Abstract
The Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1955–8, observed that the Filchner Ice Shelf was traversed by a straight east-west zone of brecciated ice—the ‘Great Ice Chasm’—about forty miles south of Shackleton. Analysis of the crevasse patterns at the eastern end of the Chasm indicates that the brecciated zone probably resulted from a wrench- or tear-faulting movement, in which the northern side moved westwards relative to the southern. The frictional drag caused by the strong westward current of the Weddell Sea on the base of the northern part of the floating ice-shelf is considered to have been largely responsible for the formation of the Chasm.
Published Version
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