NASA: Vast Antarctic ice shelf a few years from disintegration

Published On: May 15, 2015
154 words
Views: 717

NASA has found that the last section of Antarctica’s Larsen B Ice Shelf is likely to disintegrate before the end of the decade.

JPL: We know that this ice shelf existed for at least 11 to 12 thousand years. In 2002, two-thirds of it collapsed in less than six weeks. In the intervening period between 2002 and now, the remaining part of Larsen B has also been weakening very, very quickly. We expect it will not last for more than a few years to come. This would undoubtedly affect sea-level rise by putting more ice into the ocean. Now we have this rare opportunity of this ice shelf destabilizing and eventually collapsing in front of our eyes. And that will give us incredibly valuable lessons that we could use to understand what might be happening elsewhere in the future. It is certainly a warning. The conclusion is inescapable.

About the Author: Chris Machens

Chris Machens
Chris covers the broad spectrum of climate change, and the solutions, with the focus on the sciences. Climate State – we endorse data, facts, empirical evidence.
    Subscribe
    Notify of
    guest

    0 Comments
    Oldest
    Newest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments

    POPULAR

    FinalCut Pro License Fundraiser

    Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.