NEWS REPORT: Western Antarctic Ice Chunk Collapses

The Associated Press reports in this story by Seth Borenstein that a 160-square-mile chunk in western Antarctica called the Wilkins ice shelf (which has been there for hundreds, maybe 1,500 years) has collapsed, putting an even greater portion of glacial ice at risk. From the article:

• 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.

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

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

• "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.

• 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.

ASSOCIATE PRESS

Western Antarctic Ice Chunk Collapses
By Seth Borenstein
March 25, 2008

WASHINGTON (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.

To read the full Associate Press story, please CLICK HERE.

For additional Information:

    * The National Snow and Ice Data Center
    * The British Antarctic Survey

Video report from BBC on Wilkins ice shelf.

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