Fowler Ice Rise () is a very large Antarctic ice rise between Evans Ice Stream and Carlson Inlet, in the southwest part of Ronne Ice Shelf. The feature appears to be completely ice covered except for Haag Nunataks, which protrude above the surface in the northwest portion. It was mapped by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Landsat imagery taken 1973-74, and named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for Capt. Alfred N. Fowler, USN (Ret.), Commander, U.S. Naval Support Force, Antarctica, 1972-74.
An ice rise is a clearly defined elevation of the otherwise totally flat ice shelf, typically dome-shaped and rising 100 to 200 meters above the surrounding ice shelf. An ice rise forms where the ice shelf touches the rocky seabed because of an elevation in the seabed that remains below sea level. (In contrast, an elevation in the seabed that extends above sea level is defined as an island). The ice shelf flows over the seabed elevation, completely covering it with ice, thereby forming an ice rise. The resulting tension forms crevasses around the ice rise.
An island within and totally covered by the ice shelf, may appear the exactly the same as an ice rise. Elaborate measurements may be required to distinguish between these two geographic features.
Although ice rises are typically located within the ice shelf area, they can partially face the open sea. Ice rises are found only on the ice shelves of Antarctica, mostly on Ronne Ice Shelf.
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Geological Survey document "Fowler Ice Rise" (content from the Geographic Names Information System).