UN sounds warning after Antarctica ice shelf rips (UNEP - UN Environment Programm)

AFP on Yahoo ^ | 4/7/09 | AFP

[NormsRevenge]

PARIS (AFP) – The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said the breakway of a Jamaica-sized ice shelf from the Antarctic peninsula could accelerate global warming in this already vulnerable region.

Satellite pictures show a 40-kilometre (25-mile) ice bridge that was the Wilkins Ice Shelf's last link to the coast had now shattered at its narrowest point, about 500 metres (yards) wide, UNEP said.

The Wilkins Ice Shelf once covered around 16,000 square kilometres (6,000 square miles) before it began to retreat in the 1990s, and by last May the ice bridge was all that connected it to Charcot and Latady islands.

The loss of the bridge "may now allow ocean currents to wash away far more of the shelf," UNEP said.

...

In the past 50 years, temperatures have risen by 2.5 degrees Celsius (4.5 degrees Fahrenheit), around six times the global average.

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"Although the Wilkins ice bridge collapse will have no direct consequence on sea level rise, it might have an indirect impact, as the decay of the ice shelf will reduce the stability of the glaciers that are feeding it," said Lambrechts.

In the past 20 years, Antarctica has lost seven ice shelves.

[goodwithagun]

We’re all going to die!

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Arrrrrrrrgh! Oooooooh the HORROR!!!!!! /s

[b4its2late]

We’re all going to die!

True statement.

[mgc1122]

Ice never broken off Antarctic before, eh?

[wombtotomb]

ohhhhhh nooooozzzzzzzz!

[b4its2late]

At least there were no fisherman on it when it went a float, so a rescue is unnecessary.

[steelyourfaith]

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[jrd]

Chicken Little was right!

[RexBeach]

So, now it begins...the end of ice.

How am I gonna cool the bourbon?

[max americana]

> We’re all going to die!

While we prep to die, Algore will leave his mansion lights on.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

In the past 50 years, temperatures have risen by 2.5 degrees Celsius (4.5 degrees Fahrenheit), around six times the global average.

LOL! They haven't been able to get themselves to look at the corrected temperature data. The antarctic has been as much as 9 degrees below normal temperatures over the last few years.

The ice broke off because it got too large to be able to hold itself against the ocean currents.

[sniper63]

"At least there were no fisherman on it when it went a float, so a rescue is unnecessary."

What about the penguins!

[Abathar]

There were no OSU graduates around in their ice shanties like on Lake Huron...

[Snickering Hound]

LOL! They haven't been able to get themselves to look at the corrected temperature data. The antarctic has been as much as 9 degrees below normal temperatures over the last few years

Corrected news is counter-revolutionary.

[xp38]

They will be drowning like the polar bears at the other polar region. /sarc

[editor-surveyor]

How could shch a massive increase in ice cause global warming?

These clowns get crazier every minute.

[editor-surveyor]

"The ice broke off because it got too large to be able to hold itself against the ocean currents."

Exactly, and all calving is caused by advancing ice, not retreating.

[Beagle8U]

“At least there were no fisherman on it when it went a float, so a rescue is unnecessary.”

Happens ever winter on Lake Erie.

[b4its2late]

The penguins escaped .....