New Antarctica Melting Could Mean Deeper Waters

Massive Crack in Larsen C Ice Shelf Grew 11 Miles in 6 Days

Lorraine Chow, 1 June 2017 (EcoWatch)

"The widening crack in Antarctica's Larsen C Ice Shelf has grown even longer. An iceberg the size of Delaware is now precariously hanging on to the main ice shelf by 8 miles of ice…[T]he rift lengthened by another 11 miles between May 25 and May 31 2017…Until recently, the crack was running parallel to the edge of the ice shelf but it took a ‘significant’ turn towards the ocean…[T]wo previous sections of the Larsen ice shelf have broken off and disappeared into the sea. Larsen A collapsed in 1995. Then in 2002, Larsen B began to rapidly break apart. Within six weeks, a 1,235 square mile chunk of ice slipped away, which scientists attributed to warmer air temperatures. Prior to that, the Larsen B ice shelf had been stable for 12,000 years…It's unclear if Larsen C will respond in a similar ways…The loss of this portion of the ice shelf will not raise sea levels since it is already floating on the water. However, as these ice shelves disintegrate, the land-locked glaciers they hold back may begin sliding into the sea. If all of the ice the Larsen C ice shelf holds back slides into the ocean, it will raise sea levels globally by four inches.” click here for more

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