Satellite image from Aug. 5, 2010, shows the huge ice island calved from Greenland's
Petermann Glacier. Credit: Andreas Muenchow, University of Delaware.
Posted on 08/07/2010 6:38:15 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
A chunk of ice four times the size of Manhattan has calved from Greenland's Petermann Glacier, scientists announced today.
The last time the Arctic lost such a large chunk of ice was in 1962.
"In the early morning hours of August 5, 2010, an ice island four times the size of Manhattan was born in northern Greenland," said Andreas Muenchow, associate professor of physical ocean science and engineering at the University of Delaware.
Satellite imagery of this remote area at 81 degrees north latitude and 61 degrees west longitude, about 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) south of the North Pole, reveals that Petermann Glacier lost about one-quarter of its 43-mile- (70-km-) long floating ice-shelf.
Trudy Wohlleben of the Canadian Ice Service discovered the ice island within hours after NASA's MODIS-Aqua satellite took the data on Aug. 5, at 8:40 UTC (4:40 EDT), Muenchow said.
Petermann Glacier, the parent of the new ice island, is one of the two largest remaining glaciers in Greenland that terminate in floating shelves. The glacier connects the great Greenland ice sheet directly with the ocean.
The new ice island has an area of at least 100 square miles (260 square kilometers) and a thickness up to half the height of the Empire State Building, which is 1,454 feet (443 meters) from the ground to the top of its lightning rod.
"The freshwater stored in this ice island could keep the Delaware or Hudson rivers flowing for more than two years. It could also keep all U.S. public tap water flowing for 120 days," Muenchow said.
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
Well golly gee, let's use it then!
Satellite image from Aug. 5, 2010, shows the huge ice island calved from Greenland's
Petermann Glacier. Credit: Andreas Muenchow, University of Delaware.
I like that term, “calved”. Makes it sound kinda cute.
I blame BP
If we could send all the AGW protesters to live on that island they might learn all about global warming as it melts.
I didn't realize Gore-bull warming had been going on that long...............
Markey: Deniers of global warming should ‘start their own country’
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2566586/posts
LOL.. saw that, Thanks!
Who cares?
How soon to barge it to DC and flood Nancy’s swamp?
Well one thing, it didn’t melt off, it calved off like a big crack was developing over the centuries .... no Gore-bull warming there ....
If it’s fairly pure water and not frozen salt water, yeah why not tow it someplace the fresh water could be put to good use.
Is there a potential economic gain or opportunity associated with this natural event? If not, why should I care?
Yep, we have to keep global warming in the news. We’re supposed to believe that man made (I’m sorry, person made, no offense to females) global warming is the reason for this chunk of glacier falling off. We’re not supposed to think about the fact that these glacier have been melting and losing chunks for eons now.
Has someone checked with Congressman Hank Johnson (D GA) to see if this isn’t really the capsized island of Guam?
I blame Obama because you know the mindless drones will blame Bush.
An aerial view of the ice glacier of Ilulissat, Greenland in 2009. Scientists hit Greenland bedrock this week after five years of drilling through 2.5 kilometres (1.6-mile) of solid ice, a 14-nation consortium announced Wednesday. (AFP/File/Slim Allagui)
Whoa! We better raise taxes and give it to Kenya before its too late! Only worldwide socialism will work!
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