The Ross Ice Shelf is the largest ice shelf in Antarctica, covering an area of about 487,000 square kilometers. It acts as a floating extension of the Antarctic ice sheet, where glaciers flow into the ocean. The ice shelf plays a crucial role in regulating sea levels and influences ocean currents. Located in the Ross Sea, the ice shelf is named after the British explorer James Clark Ross, who discovered it in 1841. It is primarily composed of ice that is several hundred meters thick and is vital for understanding climate change and its impact on polar regions.