Posted on 03/25/2008 8:37:47 PM PDT by Eleutheria5
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.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL. 2008-03-25 15:04:23
In the summer, ice melts. In the winter, it freezes back. In arctic and antarctic regions, this happens very abruptly. For details, see Rudyard Kipling's Quiquern story in Jungle Book Volume 2 (did they have global warming back then?
But it's really atributable to Global Mating, not Warming. The Earth is simply getting all hot and bothered because he's not getting any, and Saturn keeps on showing off what's underneath her rings. We must either fill the Grand Canyon up with salt peter, or send a giant, lubricated gloved hand to Nepal to gratify Mt. Everest.
So 1600 years ago it wasn't there because it was still too warm.
Would you believe I have that exact same picture on my computer and had planned to post it on this thread?
Breaking story! Associated Press loses credibility with stupid story! Extra! Extra!
Its a classic!
Im meeelting!
Bad news- Milankovitch Orbital Climate theory predicts increased warming over the next thousands of years- and there is absolutely nothing we can do to stop it unless we can change Earth’s orbit.
(Buying Gorebulbs does not change the orbit).
LOL!
The Affects of "Climate change".
Those little guys running around in your post above are precious! I hope another huge ice chunk collapses next week so I can see them again! Those are hilarious....
“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.”
I suppose that is because when ice melts it lowers the sea level a little. Ice floats because it expands when frozen, so when it melts it will take up less space not more. Basically it is a net zero. But who cares.
Snip! Let's stop right there.
Good idea. Garbage like this is what the bit bucket was invented for.
It’s funny how Vaughan deals differently with the scientific community than he does with the morons at the Ass. Press.
This is an old article so Vaughan knows what REALLY happened but the Goracle’s hoax is on the ropes right now and needs all the help it can get.
http://www.livescience.com/environment/080120-antarctic-volcano.html
“Bad news- Milankovitch Orbital Climate theory predicts increased warming over the next thousands of years- and there is absolutely nothing we can do to stop it unless we can change Earth’s orbit.”
This looks like a job for: Stupid Man!
Stupid Man! Able to make mountains out of molehills in a single leap of logic!
Stupid Man! Who can change the course of mighty rivers to drown Man-Bear-Pig,
Bend controlling legal authorities with his bare brain,
And who, disguised as Al Gore, washed up ex-VP for a major global superpower, fights a never-ending battle for
Power, Justification, and America Away!
more news worthy:
a massive chunk of euro-ameri-university liberalism/socialism
collapsed yesterday at the new york times offices in downtown manhattan.
Yes, that is fascinating. Volcano or Global Warming.
Which is it Dr. Vaughan?
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