Marine ice cliff instability (Q787)
Subject, term, tag: Marine ice cliff instability
- Marine ice cliff instability (MICI)
| Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Marine ice cliff instability |
Subject, term, tag: Marine ice cliff instability |
|
Statements
IPCC Glossary v1.5
1 reference
27 May 2026
A hypothetical mechanism of an ice cliff failure. In case a marine-terminated ice sheet loses its buttressing ice shelf, an ice cliff can be exposed. If the exposed ice cliff is tall enough (about 800 m of the total height, or about 100 m of the above-water part), the stresses at the cliff face exceed the strength of the ice, and the cliff fails structurally in repeated calving events. (English)
IPCC Glossary v1.5
1 reference
27 May 2026