Posted on 05/18/2005 6:36:54 AM PDT by Sax
A huge wandering iceberg is tearing up the Antarctic like a slow-moving bull in a frozen China shop.
The roaving destructor, named B-15A, slammed into the Drygalski ice tongue a month ago and broke off at least two city-sized chunks. Now it is poised to strike another feature sticking out from the continent.
At 71 miles (115 kilometers) long, B-15A is the largest free-floating object in the world.
It is expected to lumber into the Aviator Glacier any day now, scientists with the European Space Agency said Tuesday. The researchers released a satellite image taken May 16.
Aviator was discovered in 1955 and named for flyers who helped open up the continent for exploration. The floating structure is attached to the continent and protrudes about 15 miles (25 kilometers) into Lady Newnes Bay within the Ross Sea.
If B-15A gets stuck, as it has before, researchers fear it could block sea ice behind it, thwarting animals that need to move from shore to the open sea.
B-15A is the largest chunk left of a bigger iceberg, known as B-15, that broke off the Ross Ice Shelf in March 2000. That initial frozen hunk was about the size of Jamaica. After B-15 broke apart, the chunk named B-15A drifted into McMurdo Sound, where it blocked ocean currents and caused other sea ice to build up, threatening wildlife.
Scientists predicted an imminent collision back in January this year. Instead, the iceberg ran aground and stalled out. Then it broke free in March. On the move again, it collided with the Drygalski ice tongue in April, forcing the redraw of Antarctica maps.
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and yet somehow life goes on...
We're all gonna die
It is almost as bad as those SUV's.
Sounds like my first wife.
We need pictures!
There is wildlife in Antartica?
Can glacier watching really be that exciting of a lifestyle?
The roaving destructor...
Freudian typo. That was supposed to be ''Rovian destructor.''
Women and minorities will be most affected by this iceberg that is a direct result of the US failure to ratify the Kyoto accords. (sarcasm)
Nature's answer to global warming? When the oceans warm up drop in a piece of ice.
Preventing animals from getting to the open sea.
I had just assumed ALL of Antartica was ice.
I'm not sure what you call it but if it shows up with a bunch of lawyers an takes a pile of money it might actually be my first wife. Another indicator that it might be her is that it's frigid. So, this thing is either my first wife or Hillary.
"If B-15A gets stuck, as it has before, researchers fear it could block sea ice behind it, thwarting animals that need to move from shore to the open sea."
Researchers must frighten easily. Somehow this prospect doesn't frighten me at all.
Don't let this get out, the left will have another reason to say that the earth is warming. Then we will have to endure another "Day After Tomorrow" Horror flick. (said as to the pain I felt watching it not its genre) Who knows maybe it is godzilla come to life?
And don't forget the effect of the Republican "Nuclear Option". It is bound to add to the mess.
I thought this was the largest free-floating object in the world.
Why don't they just send Ben Afflek and Bruce Willis to blow it up?
ANTartica is the south pole. The ARTIC is the north pole.
Sorry to hear about the hurricanes.
We get tornados and floods in the midwest. Most of the time we're okay though.
"roaving"
"ice tongue"
"sticking out"
"protrudes"
"stimulating"
Hmmmmmmmmm.
Yep, got the poles, just thought you were thinking about the north when you mentioned all ice.
First is was "When Animals Attack"
Now it's "When Iceburgs Attack!"
I should have said "completely covered in ice". It would have been more clear. Sorry.
Old Drygalski should not stick his tongue out! Serves him right.
Was he the Pole that poles were named after?
Can Poland claim the poles as their territories?
Look on the bright side: if it forces a redrawing of the maps of Antarctica, it will give geographers something to do.
"If B-15A gets stuck, as it has before, researchers fear it could block sea ice behind it, thwarting animals that need to move from shore to the open sea."
Natural selection, baby.
no worries. cheers!
Where's global warming when you need it?
I smell a new SciFi movie in development.
hey you had one of those first wifes too.....
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