A chunk of Antarctic ice larger than the city of Montreal has suddenly collapsed..This has put an even greater portion of glacial ice at risk scientists say.
Satellite images show the actual disintegration of a 414-square-kilometer chunk in western Antarctica, which began February 28. It was the edge of the Wilkins ice shelf and has been there for perhaps 1,500 years.
This is the result of global warming, British Antarctic Survey scientist David Vaughan said.
Because scientists noticed this occurrence quickly, they diverted satellite cameras and even flew an airplane over the collapse as it was happening for rare pictures and video.
Although icebergs naturally break away from the mainland, collapses like this are unusual. They have, however, been happening more frequently recently. The collapse is similar to what would result if glass were smashed with a hammer.
The remainder of the Wilkins ice shelf, measuring more than twice the size of Prince Edward Island, is still holding on by a narrow beam of thin ice. Scientists worry that it also might collapse.
It was previously predicted that the Wilkins shelf would collapse about 15 years from now. The part that recently gave way makes up about 4 per cent of the overall shelf. It is a significant part, though, that can trigger further collapse.
There’s still a chance the rest of the ice shelf might survive until next year because this is the end of the Antarctic summer and colder weather is setting in. Scientists say they are not worried about a rise in sea level from the latest event, but that it is a sign of worsening global warming.
Climate in Antarctica is complicated and more isolated from the rest of the world. Much of the continent is not warming and some parts are even cooling. However, the western peninsula that includes the Wilkins ice shelf juts into the ocean and is warming. This is the part of the continent where scientists are most concerned about ice-melt triggering sea-level rise.
