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Science & Technology

Scientist 'gob-smacked' at glacier break-up

By T.K. Randall
September 6, 2011 · Comment icon 22 comments

Image Credit: NASA
A massive glacier in Greenland has broken up almost completely within the space of just two years.
The Petermann Glacier is 186 miles long and over 3,000ft in height but in just two years has broken up almost entirely. "Although I knew what to expect in terms of ice loss from satellite imagery, I was still completely unprepared for the gob-smacking scale of the break-up, which rendered me speechless," said Dr Alun Hubbard.
New pictures have revealed the extent to which a huge glacier in northern Greenland has broken up in just two years, claims a glaciologist.


Source: BBC News | Comments (22)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #13 Posted by BFB 13 years ago
Im surprised no one has pointed out that the photos show sea ice and not a glacier 3 x the hieght of the eiffel tower There's three types of glaciers. Mountain glaciers, continental glaciers, and sea ice.
Comment icon #14 Posted by 27vet 13 years ago
I can't see the article, they have moved it off the main page. Found. But isn't that what glaciers are supposed to do?
Comment icon #15 Posted by 13 years ago
I can't see the article, they have moved it off the main page. Found. But isn't that what glaciers are supposed to do? Glaciers tend to remain fairly stable for centuries. If they suddenly change in years/decades then something has dramatically changed in their environment which needs accounting for. It is very true that glacial retreat is taking place in many parts of the world for the first time in many many centuries. Br Cornelius
Comment icon #16 Posted by Coffey 13 years ago
I've heard first hand some interesting information about the Ice melting debacle. This was 3 years ago, before I became interested in some of these crazy 'conspiracy' theories. So I was a believer of climate change at the time, poorly uninformed that I was. While working for a survey company in the Arctic, we met a ship with scientists who were studying the ice melting situation. We invited them onto our ship, since their ship was more like a boat and their chef was more like...well, not a chef. Over the table they used alot of words I was unfamiliar with, but I did ask when we can expect the ... [More]
Comment icon #17 Posted by skookum 13 years ago
As stated before he is shocked by the glacier breaking up, but I am far more interested in the rocks on the right hand side disappearing.
Comment icon #18 Posted by zenfahr 13 years ago
As stated before he is shocked by the glacier breaking up, but I am far more interested in the rocks on the right hand side disappearing. Then you are completely missing the point. good job.
Comment icon #19 Posted by Doug1029 13 years ago
While working for a survey company in the Arctic, we met a ship with scientists who were studying the ice melting situation. We invited them onto our ship, since their ship was more like a boat and their chef was more like...well, not a chef. Over the table they used alot of words I was unfamiliar with, but I did ask when we can expect the sea levels to rise & by how much. They laughed and said...nothing more than the usual. When I asked why that was if all the ice was melting, they simply said. Yes It is all melting, but on one side. Ice on the other side is being formed at the same rate.... [More]
Comment icon #20 Posted by Xanthurion2 13 years ago
global warming
Comment icon #21 Posted by encouraged 13 years ago
Was he saying that its length was 3 x the height of the tower OR its height? The height could still be 3 x the tower's height if it is all below the Earth's surface. Can the top of a glacier be nearly level with the Earth's surface and heaps of it under that level like a floating glacier?
Comment icon #22 Posted by Cryptozological Mascot 13 years ago
Gob-smacked? Oh man, I thought it said "Gob Stopper." Now I want candy...


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