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Science & Technology

Monster-sized iceberg splits from Antarctica

By T.K. Randall
July 12, 2017 · Comment icon 7 comments

The Larsen Ice Shelf rift before the iceberg broke away. Image Credit: NASA ICE
One of the largest icebergs in recorded history has broken away from the world's southernmost continent.
The iceberg, which split from a region of Antarctica known as the Larsen C Ice Shelf, is believed to cover an area of over 6,000 square miles and is approximately 200 meters in thickness.

At roughly the size of Delaware, the iceberg weighs somewhere in the region of one trillion tonnes.

"The iceberg is one of the largest recorded and its future progress is difficult to predict," said Adrian Luckman of MIDAS, a UK-based Antarctic research project.

"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."



Source: BBC News | Comments (7)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #1 Posted by sees 7 years ago
Yes I read that....very worrying isn't it!?  I wonder what the repercussions will be. 
Comment icon #2 Posted by DanL 7 years ago
There will be no repercussions. It is just a giant ice cube that will eventually drift into warmer water and melt like ice in a glass. In the opening statement it says "One of the largest icebergs in recorded history" There have been others and bigger ones. Ice has absolutely no effect on the ocean levels. The entire north polar ice could melt and not raise the ocean levels an inch.  Test it yourself. Put a big chunk of ice in a bowl then fill it with water right to the top. Watch the water level as the ice melts. It doesn't change as long as the ice was floating when it started.  Only ice t... [More]
Comment icon #3 Posted by paperdyer 7 years ago
Well I hope there aren't any "unsinkable" boats in the area.  One Titanic was enough!  We down need a companion movie.
Comment icon #4 Posted by Noxasa 7 years ago
Although I basically agree with you DanL, that's not entirely what's happening here.  I'm not a doomsayer here as I don't believe there is conclusive scientific evidence to support AGW but ice shelves do hold back and reduce the flow of glaciers into ocean waters and glaciers "can" contribute to ocean levels.  And although the melting of arctic sea ice would not contribute to a rise in ocean levels as you suggest, increases in Antarctic glacial flow of ice directly into oceans through floating ice shelves may potentially cause sea level rises if it is faster than the natural cycle of water f... [More]
Comment icon #5 Posted by DanL 7 years ago
Calving is a normal part of any healthy glacier. The problems from them come not when they are calving rather when they stop growing and just start melting. Normal healthy glaciers make no real change in water levels as long as they flow and grow at a consistent rate. It is basically the same a=s rain running down hill only done in slow motion. The problems start when they either start melting faster than they are flowing or conversly when they start growing faster then they are flowing. The melting, if it lasts for a long time will cause ocean levels to rise. When they grow faster than they f... [More]
Comment icon #6 Posted by Myles 7 years ago
Let's go get it.
Comment icon #7 Posted by seeder 7 years ago
 


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