Pressure ridgesThese pressure ridges occur at the edge of the ice shelf near Scott Base. They were formed by the collision of sea ice against the low ice shelf margin, the latter at this point being only a few metres above water level. The ridges display a myriad of forms which, on a sunny evening with low light, are stunningly beautiful. Cracks which form within the ridges provide conduits for Weddell seals to haul out onto the ice shelf and give birth to pups. Scott Base staff have marked out a route through the pressure ridges, allowing visitors and residents an opportunity to experience an area of incredible beauty. |
![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/aerial_photo_ridge.jpg) Aerial view of the pressure ridges near Scott Base. On the right is the McMurdo Ice Shelf; and on the left sea ice. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/seaward_side_erebus.jpg) Seaward side of pressure ridges with Mt Erebus in the background. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/ice_shelf_side_erebus.jpg) Ice-shelf side of pressure ridges with Mt Erebus in the background. The surface of the ice shelf here is only a few metres above sea level. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/pinnacles_discovery.jpg) Pinnacles in the pressure ridges frame Mt Discovery in the background. |
![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/ridge_observation_hill.jpg) View through a pressure ridge toward the volcanic cone of Observation Hill. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/moat.jpg) Tidal movements allow a moat to form in the sea ice adjacent to the ice shelf. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/towards_scott_base.jpg) View of Scott Base from the pressure ridges. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/chaotic_ridges_&_pinnacle.jpg) Chaotic blocks of ice in the pressure ridges frame Minna Bluff in the background. |
![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/slab_sea_ice.jpg) Up-thrust slab of sea ice. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/sea_ice_slabs_deforming.jpg) Sea-ice slabs deforming under their own weight. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/backlit_ice_towers.jpg) Ice towers, backlit by the late evening sun. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/wall_like_ridge.jpg) Solid flat slabs of sea ice thrust up into a wall-like feature. |
![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/backlit_floe_obs_hill.jpg) Upturned ice floe, backlit by the sun, with Observation Hill in the background. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/folding_of_ridge.jpg) Folded ridge of up-thrust sea ice, deforming under its own weight. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/layering-in-floe_backlit.jpg) Layering in sea ice is enhanced by the backlighting from the sun. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/animalistic_floe.jpg) Upturned floe having the appearance of a weird animal. |
![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/overhanging_floe.jpg) Upturned floe, overhanging and ready to collapse. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/slabs_upturned.jpg) Slabs of sea ice, tilted on end to form a barrier. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/wind_farm.jpg) Recently installed wind-farm serving McMurdo Station and Scott Base. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/pinnacles_discovery_2.jpg) Shadowy ice pinnacles with Mt Discovery in the background. |
![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/arcuate_crack_in_floe.jpg) Arcuate crack in upturned floe. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/snow_dunes.jpg) Snow dunes comprising granular snow; reminiscent of sand dunes. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/cross_lainated_snow.jpg) Cross-lamination picked out by low light in a snow dune. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/seal_haulout.jpg) Weddell seal that has hauled out via a crack on the ice shelf side of the pressure ridges. |
![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/weddell_seal_pup.jpg) Weddell seal pup peers over its mother’s body. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/weddell_seal_pup_2.jpg) Another Weddell seal pup with mother. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/weddell_seal_uptuned_flipper.jpg) Weddell seal on its back with raised flipper. | ![Pressure ridges Pressure ridges](icons/snow_basin_pinnacles.jpg) A snow basin within the numerous pinnacles of the pressure ridges. |
Photos Michael Hambrey, November and December 2010. |