Biggest Glacier in the World - Lambert Glacier
Spread over an area of more than 1 million square kilometers, the Lambert Glacier holds the distinction of being the largest glacier in the world.
At 400 kilometers (250 miles) long, 100 kilometers (60 miles) wideand about 2,500 m deep, Lambert Glacier alone drains about 8 percent of the Antarctic Ice Sheetand flows northward to the Amery Ice Shelf.
When the glacier was first delineated by American geographer John H. Roscoe in 1952, he named it as "Baker Three Glacier" using the code name of the navy photographic aircraft and crew that made three flights in this coastal area in March 1947 resulting in geographic discoveries. The name Lambert Glacier as applied by the Antarctic Names Committee of Australia in 1957 has become established following mapping of the area by Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions in 1956. It was named for Bruce P. Lambert, Director of National Mapping in the Australian Department of National Development.
Due to the prevalence of harsh conditions and deeper isolation of the area, extensive in person survey of the glacier has not been possible as of yet. Most of the studies have been conducted using remote sensing technology.
Being the largest glacier in the world, Lambert glacier is also important in the study of climate change because very small changes in the climate can have significant consequences for the flow of ice down the glacier.
Post Written By - Manash Hazarika
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