Huge Antarctic ice shelf close to collapse say scientists
Tue 25 March 2008
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An ice shelf the size of Northern Ireland is starting to collapse in Antarctica according to scientists from the British Antarctic Survey giving evidence of more rapid climate change. The Wilkins ice sheet, one of the largest on the Antarctic Peninsula is 'hanging by a thread' say scientists.
The collapse of the shelf had been predicted, but is happening more quickly than expected, scientists say. It is thought the warming of the atmosphere, which has been happening several times faster on the Antarctic Peninsula than the global average, has melted more surface ice, which is weakening the shelf.
Satellite images from the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre show that an iceberg measuring 25.5 miles by 1.5 miles - the size of the Isle of Man - broke off last month.
Prof David Vaughan, of the BAS, said: "I didn't expect to see things happen this quickly...Climate warming has pushed the limit of viability for ice shelves further south - setting some of them that used to be stable on a course of retreat. The Wilkins breakout won't have any effect on sea level because it is floating already but it is another indication of the impact of that climate change."
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