Giant iceberg breaks off Antarctica

[snoop1130]

Giant iceberg breaks off Antarctica

By Nina Chestney

 

A rift across the Larsen C Ice Shelf that had grown longer and deeper is seen during an airborne surveys of changes in polar ice over the Antarctic Peninsula from NASA’s DC-8 research aircraft on November 10, 2016. Coutesy NASA/Handout via REUTERS/Files

 

LONDON (Reuters) - One of the biggest icebergs on record has broken away from Antarctica, scientists said on Wednesday, creating an extra hazard for ships around the continent as it breaks up.

 

The one trillion tonne iceberg, measuring 5,800 square km, calved away from the Larsen C Ice Shelf in Antarctica sometime between July 10 and 12, said scientists at the University of Swansea and the British Antarctic Survey.

 

The iceberg has been close to breaking off for a few months. Throughout the Antarctic winter, scientists monitored the progress of the rift in the ice shelf using the European Space Agency satellites. 

 

"The iceberg is one of the largest recorded and its future progress is difficult to predict," said Adrian Luckman, professor at Swansea University and lead investigator of Project MIDAS, which has been monitoring the ice shelf for years.

 

"It may remain in one piece but is more likely to break into fragments. Some of the ice may remain in the area for decades, while parts of the iceberg may drift north into warmer waters," he added.

 

The ice will add to risks for ships now it has broken off. The peninsula is outside major trade routes but the main destination for cruise ships visiting from South America.

 

In 2009, more than 150 passengers and crew were evacuated after the MTV Explorer sank after striking an iceberg off the Antarctic peninsula.

 

The iceberg, which is likely to be named A68, was already floating before it broke away so there is no immediate impact on sea levels, but the calving has left the Larsen C ice shelf reduced in area by more than 12 percent.

 

The Larsen A and B ice shelves, which were situated further north on the Antarctic Peninsula, collapsed in 1995 and 2002, respectively.

 

"This resulted in the dramatic acceleration of the glaciers behind them, with larger volumes of ice entering the ocean and contributing to sea-level rise," said David Vaughan, glaciologist and director of science at British Antarctic Survey.

 

"If Larsen C now starts to retreat significantly and eventually collapses, then we will see another contribution to sea level rise," he added.

 

Big icebergs break off Antarctica naturally, meaning scientists are not linking the rift to manmade climate change. The ice, however, is a part of the Antarctic peninsula that has warmed fast in recent decades.

 

"In the ensuing months and years, the ice shelf could either gradually regrow, or may suffer further calving events which may eventually lead to collapse – opinions in the scientific community are divided," Luckman said.

 

"Our models say it will be less stable, but any future collapse remains years or decades away."

 

(Editing by Toby Chopra)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-7-12

[ddavidovsky]

As they do.

 

'Wales breaks off from England' would be more interesting.

[coulson]

"In the ensuing months and years, the ice shelf could either gradually regrow, or may suffer further calving events which may eventually lead to collapse – opinions in the scientific community are divided," Luckman said.

Opinions in the sponsored scientific community can be as divided as the ice itself. Maybe they, at least, could agree that we dont need more evidence of what's coming.

[Credo]

The big question is, will the Chinese build a military base on the iceberg?

[klauskunkel]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

"It may remain in one piece but is more likely to break into fragments. Some of the ice may remain in the area for decades, while parts of the iceberg may drift north into warmer waters,"

that about covers it, good job.

[pumpjack]

its the end of the world  

[Ace of Pop]

Isn't that Strange, Ice Melting , a good reason to riot,vandalise,and become Vegans.


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[YetAnother]

3 hours ago, Credo said:

The big question is, will the Chinese build a military base on the iceberg?

hope they do right before it breaks up

[IAMHERE]

3 hours ago, Credo said:

The big question is, will the Chinese build a military base on the iceberg?

I thought all you had to do was land a plane and plant a flag; it is yours.

[Ace of Pop]

I thought all you had to do was land a plane and plant a flag; it is yours.

No that's only in the U.K. For Imegrants.!!?


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[Stargeezr]

Of course this event is man kinds fault.  As every thing that happens these days is man kinds fault.    Nature never gets blamed for the cycles of warming and cooling of the Earth.  At least the last Ice Age was not blamed on us.

  Geezer

[craigt3365]

On 7/12/2017 at 8:31 PM, coulson said:

 

Opinions in the sponsored scientific community can be as divided as the ice itself. Maybe they, at least, could agree that we dont need more evidence of what's coming.

From what I've read, 97% of scientists agree climate change is happening.  Worth watching.  Especially the part about CO2 in the atmosphere.  Seems the scientific community is in agreement.

 

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/12/us/weather-cities-inundated-climate-change/index.html

[coulson]

From what I've read, 97% of scientists agree climate change is happening.  Worth watching.  Especially the part about CO2 in the atmosphere.  Seems the scientific community is in agreement.
 
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/12/us/weather-cities-inundated-climate-change/index.html

It's the 3% that have more funding who we should be worried about.