Shackleton Ice Shelf
{{short description|Ice shelf of Antarctica}}
{{Location map
| Antarctica
| lat_deg = 66
| lat_min = 00
| lat_sec =00
| lat_dir = S
| lon_deg = 100
| lon_min = 00
| lon_sec = 00
| lon_dir = E
| mark =
| marksize = 10
| AlternativeMap = Antarctica relief location map.jpg
| label = Shackleton Ice Shelf
| position = left
| caption = Location of Shackleton Ice Shelf in Antarctica
}}
File:Shack 2009054 0800 modis ch02.png
Shackleton Ice Shelf is an extensive ice shelf fronting the coast of East Antarctica from 95° E to 105° E. It extends for an along-shore distance of about {{convert|384|km|0}}, projecting seaward about {{convert|145|km|0}} in the western portion and {{convert|64|km|0}} in the east. It occupies an area of {{convert|33,820|km2|0}}. It is part of Mawson Sea and separates the Queen Mary Coast to the west from the Knox Coast of Wilkes Land to the east.
Discovery and naming
The existence of this ice shelf was first made known by the USEE under Charles Wilkes who mapped a portion of it from the Vincennes in February 1840. It was explored by the Australian Antarctic Expedition under Douglas Mawson (1911–14) who named it for Sir Ernest Shackleton. The extent of the ice shelf was mapped in greater detail in 1955, using aerial photography obtained by US Navy Operation Highjump, 1946–47. Further mapping by the Soviet Expedition of 1956 showed the portion eastward of Scott Glacier to be a part of this ice shelf.
Important Bird Area
A 500 ha site ({{coord|64|59|19|S|96|09|21|E|source:BLI|display=inline}}) on the ice shelf has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports a breeding colony of some 6,500 emperor penguins, based on 2009 satellite imagery. {{cite web |url=http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/shackleton-ice-shelf-iba-antarctica |title= Shackleton Ice Shelf|author= |date=2015 |website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 27 November 2020}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{gnis|13624|Shackleton Ice Shelf|type=antarid}}
{{coord|66|00|S|100|00|E|type:glacier_region:AQ_scale:4000000|display=title}}
{{Important Bird Areas of Antarctica}}
{{Portal bar|Birds|Geography|Earth sciences|Weather}}
Category:Important Bird Areas of Antarctica
Category:Ice shelves of Antarctica