Singapore-sized chunk of ice breaks away from Antarctica and is now adrift

[DonViejo]

By David Ferguson
Saturday, November 23, 2013 12:05 EST

A chunk of ice the size of the island nation of Singapore broke off of the continent of Antarctica late last month and is currently adrift at sea.

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NASA satellite images taken on Oct. 28 and Nov. 13 show the before and after images of the break.

A crack was first detected in the pine island glacier years ago. Gradually it deepened into a rift and now, a full detachment from the continental mass.


Scientists say the city-sized iceberg measures roughly 35 by 20 km. (22 by 12 mi.) and that it is anybody’s guess whether the iceberg will stay trapped in Pine Island bay or get set adrift in the Southern Ocean.

Watch video about this story, embedded below via Slate Video:

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/11/23/singapore-sized-chunk-of-ice-breaks-away-from-antarctica-and-is-now-adrift/

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Until June 1, 2013 I was a resident of a Caribbean island 21 miles long X 5 miles wide...a little smaller than this Singapore sized chunk of ice. Yikes!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. more to come, i'm afraid

[Igel]

2. Of course.

It's an ice stream.

Climate change contributes, but the stream has flowed for many millennia. Probably still not at equilibrium from the previous ice age.

And a recent uptick in volcanic activity under that part of West Antarctica--let's hear it for rift zones--can't be helping.

Heat's heat, but with the addition that heat at the base of a glacier and the resulting basal slippage are a lot more problematic than heat at the top.

But you're a DUer, not a low-information voter, so that's merely redundant information.

[Egalitarian Thug]

3. K&R For our daily report on living in interesting times. n/t