Wormald Ice Piedmont

An ice piedmont is a glacier that forms at the foot of a range of mountains with a front that is longer than the distance along the flow centerline. Wormald Ice Piedmont (67°29'S, 68°5'W) covers most of the eastern part of Wright Peninsula, Adelaide Island, and is named after a meteorologist of the British Antarctic Survey. The 25 km-long ice piedmont is close to Rothera Research Station, and as such is used as an emergency airfield as well as a training ground for field parties.

Wormald Ice Piedmont
Aerial view of the SW end of Wormald Ice Piedmont, showing marine-terminating cliff, the Rothera runway and station buildings, and Rothera Point (centre).
Wormald Ice Piedmont
Ice cliff of Wormald Ice Piedmont, with icebergs and new sea ice in the foreground, seen from Rothera Point.
Wormald Ice Piedmont
Telephoto of ice cliff seen beyond three icebergs. Crevasses above the ice cliff indicate where the next calving event will occur.
Wormald Ice Piedmont
View from the surface of Wormald Ice Piedmont, looking towards Mackay Point, where the ice is grounded, and beyond to Arrowsmith Peninsula on the mainland.
Wormald Ice Piedmont
Evening view of Wormald Ice Piedmont and the hills beyond which nourish it, with icebergs in the foreground. Viewed from Rothera Point.
Wormald Ice Piedmont
Aerial view of crevasses formed around Mackay Point. Note the piles of ice rubble at the foot of the cliffs.
Wormald Ice Piedmont
Close-up detail of the calving front of Wormald Glacier near Mackay Point.
Wormald Ice Piedmont
Stratification and cornices at the southwestern ice cliff next to the Rothera runway.
Wormald Ice Piedmont
This image and the following six show the southwestern cliffs of Wormald Glacier, viewed from similar locations at Rothera Station, seen under different light and ice conditions.
Wormald Ice Piedmont
The southwestern cliffs of Wormald Glacier
Wormald Ice Piedmont
The southwestern cliffs of Wormald Glacier
Wormald Ice Piedmont
The southwestern cliffs of Wormald Glacier
Wormald Ice Piedmont
The southwestern cliffs of Wormald Glacier
Wormald Ice Piedmont
The southwestern cliffs of Wormald Glacier
Wormald Ice Piedmont
The southwestern cliffs of Wormald Glacier
 
Photos Michael Hambrey, November and December 2012.