A crack has opened across the full width of the PIG ice shelf, spawning a new berg
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A Nasa plane was the first to detect the expanding crack in October 2011
Posted on 07/09/2013 5:36:38 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Pine Island Glacier (PIG), the longest and fastest flowing glacier in the Antarctic, has spawned a huge iceberg.
The block measures about 720 sq km in area - roughly eight times the size of Manhattan Island in New York.
Scientists have been waiting for the PIG to calve since October 2011 when they first noticed a spectacular crack spreading across its surface.
Confirmation that the fissure had extended the full width of the glacier was obtained on Monday.
It was seen by the German TerraSAR-X satellite.
This carries a radar instrument that can detect the surface of the ice stream even though the Antarctic is currently in the grip of winter darkness.
The berg that broke away was part of the PIG's ice shelf - the front segment of the glacier that lifts up and floats as it pushes out into the ocean. The shelf will reach tens of km beyond the grounding line.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
A crack has opened across the full width of the PIG ice shelf, spawning a new berg
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A Nasa plane was the first to detect the expanding crack in October 2011
It also means more - not less - ice moving down the valley.
How can we keep this tragedy from happening again? Can we ban something? Or tax something?
Who will be the first outlet (media or scientific) to blame it on Climate Change (see my tagline)?
I saw that movie.
lets tow it to claifornia for water
I know!!! Lets tax bans.
We’re doomed ... I can just feel it. I don’t know how, but I’m sure some PHD Professor in Ancient Literature will be on tomorrow’s morning news show detailing the end of the world as we know it. Like bobbleheads the morning news show hosts will nod with authority with each detailed possible catastrophic event.
I don’t know, but I’m sure that o’bambi will try to milk every nickel out of this for his next vacay.
Weekly World News?
The Onion?
Mad Magazine?
Bloomberg?
Newsweek?
Time magazine?
All equal in terms of reliable, accurate reporting....
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