A stunning photo captures growing Antarctic ice rift

MSMBC.COM ^ | Feb. 1, 2012 | OurAmazingPlanet staff

[Paul Pierett]

A massive crack in a huge sheet of Antarctic ice discovered in mid-October last year is steadily growing, as seen in recently released satellite images...

The recent discovery that the glacier has markedly sped up over the last decade has provoked a flurry of research interest in Pine Island Glacier and its ice shelf, whose sudden changes are almost undoubtedly caused by climate change and warming oceans in the region.

[eclecticEel]

Here's a shot of the crack. One thing that's patently obvious is that the edge of the glacier on the left hand side of the image was also at one time a crack, much like this new one that's now opening up. Of course, that probably happened before the era of satellite imagery - so I guess it doesn't count.

[meatloaf]

You got 15 minutes more than me. I have no clue who that is.

[GladesGuru]

“We’d like to measure if the ice shelf notices the loss.”

And I was unaware ice shelves were sentient.

[Puckster]

http://www.nps.gov/kefj/naturescience/glaciers.htm

It's summer time in Antarctica......glaciers will flow faster.....basal slippage from the melting water as its base. Simple really...if they would only think about it or clarify that it is flowing faster all year round, in which case the increased cold and snow fall their would account for both.

[Brad’s Gramma]

PLEASE DONATE

SO THIS SHIVERING PATHETIC SNIVELING
SHADOW OF A DOG CAN GET OUT OF OUR SIGHT!

PLEASE DONATE

SO THIS SHIVERING PATHETIC SNIVELING
SHADOW OF A DOG CAN GET OUT OF OUR SIGHT!

[WSGilcrest]

"The ice shelf is the floating end of the Pine Island Glacier, a slow-moving river of ice in West Antarctica that moves ice from the interior of the continent out to sea. "

Can someone please explain to me where West Antarctica starts?

[Political Junkie Too]

are almost undoubtedly caused by climate change and warming oceans in the region.

How come mountainous volcanos are allowed to erupt, the earth is allowed to quake, but ice is not allowed to crack?

-PJ

[okie01]

Can someone please explain to me where West Antarctica starts?

Where East Antarctica begins.

[Freedom_Fighter_2001]

Can someone please explain to me where West Antarctica starts?

Go north on main street, Antarctica, and turn left. You are now in West Antarctica.

[PA Engineer]

Ok, the glacier "...has markedly sped up..." Hmm, seems to me that means more ice coming down, increased flow. Gee, to do that you'd need more snow & ice at the source... Doesn't sound like a warming trend but rather a cooling trend.

Ditto.

[cliff630]

But I’m on the other side. Does that mean I go
South and turn left? Maybe I should just wait
until all these icebergs melt.

[Aussiebabe]

Ice extent has been growing in the Antarctica since satellite images started to be kept in 1979, and as of today's date, is higher than average for this time of year since 1979.

http://nsidc.org/data/seaice_index/images/s_plot_hires.png

[bikerman]

OMG! we are all DOOMED I tell you, DOOMED.

[ejonesie22]

Wow, ice breaking off a glacier and floating off to sea...

Better warn the Titanic before it becomes another victim of Global Warming...

[ejonesie22]

Looking North you will go to your rig...

Wait, your are near the South Pole. So looking north you would go your left...

Unless you are looking from the east side which would be on your...

Wait...

If you are actually at the South Pole, no, there everything would be north...

Come think of it lets just stay in the Florida Keys, much warmer and I know where Key West is...

[Buffalo Bob]

They had better get the Ice Road Truckers!

[6ppc]

The recent discovery that the glacier has markedly sped up over the last decade

Glaciers speeding up is a sign that they are growing, not melting! Idiots!

[Toddsterpatriot]

[70times7]

That is David Schwimmer, most well known for the character “Ross” on the television show Friends. He is not really known for much else. He did appear in the HBO series Band of Brothers” as a drill instructor that was overbearing and incompetent. He did do a good job in the part. If you have not seen the series it is amazing. Worth seeing. Worth owning.

[70times7]

Can someone please explain to me where West Antarctica starts?

LOL - seriously - I loled. That is a great catch!

BTW, If I was pressed for an answer... if someone walks 3' from the south pole and turns left 90 degrees and then walks the circumference of a 6' diameter circle around the pole, they are headed west.