Huge Chunk Of Antarctic Ice Collapses

Global Warming Blamed For Ice Shelf Collapse That Puts Larger Area At Risk

(AP)  A chunk of Antarctic ice about seven times the size of Manhattan suddenly collapsed, putting an even greater portion of glacial ice at risk, scientists said Tuesday.

Satellite images show the runaway disintegration of a 160-square-mile chunk in western Antarctica, which started Feb. 28. It was the edge of the Wilkins ice shelf and has been there for hundreds, maybe 1,500 years.

This is the result of global warming, said British Antarctic Survey scientist David Vaughan.

Because scientists noticed satellite images within hours, they diverted satellite cameras and even flew an airplane over the ongoing collapse for rare pictures and video.

"It's an event we don't get to see very often," said Ted Scambos, lead scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colo. "The cracks fill with water and slice off and topple... That gets to be a runaway situation."

While icebergs naturally break away from the mainland, collapses like this are unusual but are happening more frequently in recent decades, Vaughan said. The collapse is similar to what happens to hardened glass when it is smashed with a hammer, he said.

The rest of the Wilkins ice shelf, which is about the size of Connecticut, is holding on by a narrow beam of thin ice. Scientists worry that it too may collapse. Larger, more dramatic ice collapses occurred in 2002 and 1995.

Vaughan had predicted the Wilkins shelf would collapse about 15 years from now. The part that recently gave way makes up about 4 percent of the overall shelf, but it's an important part that can trigger further collapse.

There's still a chance the rest of the ice shelf will survive until next year because this is the end of the Antarctic summer and colder weather is setting in, Vaughan said.

Scientists said they are not concerned about a rise in sea level from the latest event, but say it's a sign of worsening global warming.

Such occurrences are "more indicative of a tipping point or trigger in the climate system," said Sarah Das, a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

"These are things that are not re-forming," Das said. "So once they're gone, they're gone."

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, Vaughan said. However, the western peninsula, which includes the Wilkins ice shelf, juts out into the ocean and is warming. This is the part of the continent where scientists are most concern about ice-melt triggering sea level rise.

[actornaught]

Posted by thgdriver at 05:45 PM : Mar 26, 2008

Pointless, yet devoid of humor and cohesive logic.

If anyone thinks they get legitimate information or guidance from 7-time loser, hate-radio drug-addict rush, you''re disqualified. It''s just an extended comedy routine...

[thgdriver]

After the midterm elections it looked like the White House was the Democrats for the taking, now you have Hillary and Obama. LOL. Thank you Dimwitocrats, You shoot yourselves in the foot every four years.

[rheola-2009]

Apologies

should have read McCain in my previous

[rheola-2009]

Hawksprings.

Good afternoon old fellow.

I see your true colours are showing, in your post''s here and elsewhere, a devout and desperate Bush supporter, this makes it very clear why you are so strongly in denial of global warming/climate change, obviously you will support Georgie''s totally flawed energy industry desires to the bitter end.

I am sitting back watching the meltdown that Hillary baby is causing amongst the Democrats, which may well result in a win for Mcain come november, hopefully he will have more consideration for the average American, than the present absolute nil as shown by Bush.

[thgdriver]

Obviously your all blind. What do you all think melted the last ice age the earth went through? It was Those dammed cave men/women driving around to work and play. Over use 0f fuels to heat their caves, run the dishwasher, vacuum, elec. stove, etc.etc.

[namesnames]

stevex47:
i''m sorry, i''ve been drinking the wrong koolaid since it is different from your koolaid.

[nggr]

Move along now, Nothing to see here.

[randaids]

NEWS FLASH- the earth will survive with or without our help. The question is if it will survive in a form that supports human life.

Recently, I''ve decided that the most important legacy we can leave is a life-supporting earth. Especially if you believe in reincarnation. So if there is an afterlife and reincarnation is a component, doesn''t it make sense that the people who steward the earth will be best taken care of in a future life?

[downsteamjim]

To stevex47: Without ice breaking off antarctica, wouldn''t the ice sheet continue to grow in size. Do you clip your fingernails?

[terribayless-2009]

As far as I know, they have only been keeping a record of high temperatures since around the early 1900''s. I have seen many record high temperatures from around the 1920''s when I watch the weather on the news that aren''t close to ours most of the time. Everything goes in cycles. This earth has been around a long long time but everyone only seems to be looking at the temperatures from the last 100 years or so and saying we are in a crisis. Things may even get hotter, but that doesn''t mean its the end of the world and that there has to be a natural disaster before it is fixed.