News Section | Astronomy and Space
Monster iceberg forming in Antarctica
NASA scientists have revealed that a monster iceberg is forming in West Antarctica.
A rift has formed in the shelf of floating ice in front of the Pine Island Glacier (PIG).
The surface crack in the PIG runs for almost 30km, is 60m deep and is growing every day.
The researchers expect the eventual berg to cover about 880 sq km – an area the size of Berlin. It is likely to break away towards the end of the year or early in 2012.
In recent years, satellite and airborne measurements have recorded a marked thinning of the PIG, which may be related to climate changes.
But the team working on NASA’s IceBridge project say this latest birthing of a giant berg is part of a natural cycle seen every 10 years or so on the glacier.
“The last big calving event occurred in 2001 so in general people have been expecting something like this to happen fairly soon, and for us it is very exciting to see this while it is happening,” IceBridge project scientist Dr Michael Studinger told BBC News.
“Eventually, the iceberg will move further north; it will be picked up by wind and ocean currents – and the primary ocean current there is the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. We will certainly be following it,” Dr Studinger added.
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