A huge iceberg nearly the size of Greater London has broken off the Antarctic ice shelf near a research station, the second such split in two years. Watch further to know more.

WION Climate Tracker: Iceberg breaks off from Antarctica Ice Shelf

A huge iceberg nearly the size of Greater London has broken off the Antarctica ice shelf near a research station, the second such split in two years, researchers announced.

WION Climate Tracker: Iceberg nearly the size of Greater London breaks off from Antarctica ice shelf

The rapid collapses of two ice shelves on the Antarctic Peninsula over the past quarter-century were most likely triggered by the arrival of huge plumes of warm, moisture-laden air that created extreme conditions and destabilized the ice, researchers said Thursday.

The disintegration of the Larsen A shelf in 1995 and of the Larsen B shelf in 2002 were preceded by landfall of these plumes, called atmospheric rivers, from the Pacific Ocean. They generated extremely warm temperatures over several days that caused surface melting of the ice that led to fracturing, and reduced sea ice cover, allowing ocean swells to flex the ice shelves and further weaken them.

“We identify atmospheric rivers as a mechanism that can create extreme conditions over the ice shelves of the Antarctic Peninsula and potentially lead to their destabilization,” said Jonathan Wille, a climatologist and meteorologist at the Université Grenoble Alpes in France and lead author of a study describing the research in the journal Communications Earth and Environment.

Although there have been no collapses on the peninsula since 2002, Wille and his colleagues found that atmospheric rivers also triggered 13 of 21 large iceberg-calving events from 2000-20.

Wille said the larger Larsen C shelf, which is still mostly intact and, at about 17,000 square miles, is the fourth-largest ice shelf in Antarctica, could eventually suffer the same fate as A and B.

“The only reason why melting has not been significant so far is because it’s just farther south compared to the others, therefore colder,” he said. But as the world continues to warm, atmospheric rivers are expected to become more intense. “The Larsen C will now be at risk from the same processes,” he said.

Kyle Clem, a researcher at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand who was not involved in the study, said the work also showed that other parts of Antarctica that are not warming as fast as the peninsula could eventually be susceptible as well, since the mechanism that the researchers documented is more dependent on warming where the atmospheric river originates.

“The amount of heat and moisture that atmospheric rivers transport is higher than it would be without global warming,” Clem said. “So the air mass that slams into Antarctica is much, much warmer. And it’s these episodes of extreme events that lead to ice shelf collapse.”

“You could get this anywhere in Antarctica,” he said.

Shelves are floating tongues of ice that serve to hold back most of the ice that covers Antarctica to depths up to nearly 3 miles. When a shelf collapses, the flow of this land ice to the ocean accelerates, increasing the rate of sea level rise.

Although the Antarctic Peninsula ice sheet is relatively small — if it all melted, seas would rise by less than 1 foot — the collapse of ice shelves elsewhere on the continent could lead to much greater sea level rise over centuries.

Last month, a small ice shelf collapsed in East Antarctica, which is considered the most stable part of the continent. In the days before, an intense atmospheric river arrived in the region. It led to record high temperatures, but researchers are not yet certain how much of a role it played, if any, in the shelf’s disintegration.

Atmospheric rivers occur when a large stationary zone of high-pressure air meets a low-pressure storm system. A narrow stream of moist air flows from the confluence of the two.

In a typical Southern Hemisphere summer, the peninsula gets from one to five of these events, the researchers said. They looked at only the ones that contained the highest volume of water vapor.

If a river is intense enough, it can lead to several days of surface melting of the ice shelf. As the meltwater flows into crevices, it refreezes, expanding and widening the cracks. Eventually such repeated hydrofracturing, as the process is called, can cause the ice shelf to disintegrate.

The atmospheric river can also spur the process by melting sea ice, or if its associated winds push the sea ice away from the shelf. That allows ocean waves to rock the ice shelf, further stressing it.

Some large ice shelves in West Antarctica are thinning as a result of melting from underneath by warm ocean water. Catherine Walker, a glaciologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts who was not involved in the study, said that regardless of the long-term trends of warming and thinning, “this paper brings up the important point that very brief weather events can push an ice shelf past its tipping point.”

The rapid collapses of two ice shelves on the Antarctic Peninsula over the past quarter-century were most likely triggered by the arrival of huge plumes of warm, moisture-laden air that created extreme conditions and destabilized the ice, researchers said Thursday.

The rapid collapses of two ice shelves on the Antarctic Peninsula over the past quarter-century were most likely triggered by the arrival of huge plumes of warm, moisture-laden air that created extreme conditions and destabilized the ice, researchers said Thursday. The disintegration of the Larsen A shelf in 1995 and of the Larsen B shelf in 2002 were preceded by landfall of these plumes, called atmospheric rivers, from the Pacific Ocean. They generated extremely warm temperatures over several days that caused surface melting of the ice that led to fracturing, and reduced sea ice cover, allowing ocean swells to flex the ice shelves and further weaken them. “We identify atmospheric rivers as a mechanism that can create extreme conditions over the ice shelves of the Antarctic Peninsula and potentially lead to their destabilization,” said Jonathan Wille, a climatologist and meteorologist at the Université Grenoble Alpes in France and lead author of a study describing the research in the journal Communications Earth and Environment. Although there have been no collapses on the peninsula since 2002, Wille and his colleagues found that atmospheric rivers also triggered 13 of 21 large iceberg-calving events from 2000-20. Wille said the larger Larsen C shelf, which is still mostly intact and, at about 17,000 square miles, is the fourth-largest ice shelf in Antarctica, could eventually suffer the same fate as A and B. “The only reason why melting has not been significant so far is because it’s just farther south compared to the others, therefore colder,” he said. But as the world continues to warm, atmospheric rivers are expected to become more intense. “The Larsen C will now be at risk from the same processes,” he said. Kyle Clem, a researcher at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand who was not involved in the study, said the work also showed that other parts of Antarctica that are not warming as fast as the peninsula could eventually be susceptible as well, since the mechanism that the researchers documented is more dependent on warming where the atmospheric river originates. “The amount of heat and moisture that atmospheric rivers transport is higher than it would be without global warming,” Clem said. “So the air mass that slams into Antarctica is much, much warmer. And it’s these episodes of extreme events that lead to ice shelf collapse.” “You could get this anywhere in Antarctica,” he said. Shelves are floating tongues of ice that serve to hold back most of the ice that covers Antarctica to depths up to nearly 3 miles. When a shelf collapses, the flow of this land ice to the ocean accelerates, increasing the rate of sea level rise. Although the Antarctic Peninsula ice sheet is relatively small — if it all melted, seas would rise by less than 1 foot — the collapse of ice shelves elsewhere on the continent could lead to much greater sea level rise over centuries. Last month, a small ice shelf collapsed in East Antarctica, which is considered the most stable part of the continent. In the days before, an intense atmospheric river arrived in the region. It led to record high temperatures, but researchers are not yet certain how much of a role it played, if any, in the shelf’s disintegration. Atmospheric rivers occur when a large stationary zone of high-pressure air meets a low-pressure storm system. A narrow stream of moist air flows from the confluence of the two. In a typical Southern Hemisphere summer, the peninsula gets from one to five of these events, the researchers said. They looked at only the ones that contained the highest volume of water vapor. If a river is intense enough, it can lead to several days of surface melting of the ice shelf. As the meltwater flows into crevices, it refreezes, expanding and widening the cracks. Eventually such repeated hydrofracturing, as the process is called, can cause the ice shelf to disintegrate. The atmospheric river can also spur the process by melting sea ice, or if its associated winds push the sea ice away from the shelf. That allows ocean waves to rock the ice shelf, further stressing it. Some large ice shelves in West Antarctica are thinning as a result of melting from underneath by warm ocean water. Catherine Walker, a glaciologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts who was not involved in the study, said that regardless of the long-term trends of warming and thinning, “this paper brings up the important point that very brief weather events can push an ice shelf past its tipping point.”

Scientists solve an Antarctic puzzle

Parts of Antarctica have recorded temperature that's 38 degrees Celsius above normal. Scientists are calling it an extraordinary heatwave. The Antarctic ice shelf has collapsed as a result of the record heat. How is all of this affecting you? Listen in to Palki Sharma.

Gravitas: Antarctica records temperatures 38 degrees above normal

Ice shelf as big as Rome has collapsed in East Antarctica due to extraordinary heatwave. This is worrisome and the question arises, 'Is World's coldest place warming up?'

Glenzer Conger ice shelf collapses in East Antarctica

According to satellite data, an ice sheet the size of Rome has totally disintegrated in east Antarctica.

The Conger ice shelf, which had a surface area of about 1,200 square kilometres, disintegrated on March 15, according to scientists.

Last week, East Antarctica experienced exceptionally mild temperatures, with Concordia station setting a new record temperature of -11.8°C on March 18, more than 40°C above seasonal norms.

An atmospheric river confined heat over the continent, resulting in record temperatures.&nbsp;

Ice shelves are over-the-water extensions of ice sheets that play a vital role in controlling inland ice.

Inland ice flows quicker into the ocean without them, causing sea level rise.&nbsp;

Dr Catherine Colello Walker, an earth and planetary scientist at Nasa, said though the Conger ice shelf was relatively small, "it is one of the most significant collapse events anywhere in Antarctica since the early 2000s when the Larsen B ice shelf disintegrated."

"It won’t have huge effects, most likely, but it’s a sign of what might be coming," Walker said.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Complete collapse of East Antarctica's Conger Ice Shelf (~1200 sq. km) ~March 15, seen in combo of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Landsat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Landsat</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MODIS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MODIS</a> imagery. Possible it hit its tipping point following the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Antarctic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Antarctic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtmosphericRiver?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AtmosphericRiver</a> and heatwave too? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CongerIceShelf?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CongerIceShelf</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Antarctica?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Antarctica</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/helenafricker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@helenafricker</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/icy_pete?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@icy_pete</a> <a href="https://t.co/7dP5d6isvd">https://t.co/7dP5d6isvd</a> <a href="https://t.co/1wzmuOwdQn">pic.twitter.com/1wzmuOwdQn</a>
— Catherine Colello Walker (@CapComCatWalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/CapComCatWalk/status/1507137389432434739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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(With inputs from agencies)

According to satellite data, an ice sheet the size of Rome has totally disintegrated in east Antarctica. The Conger ice shelf, which had a surface area of about 1,200 square kilometres, disintegrated on March 15, according to scientists.

According to satellite data, an ice sheet the size of Rome has totally disintegrated in east Antarctica. The Conger ice shelf, which had a surface area of about 1,200 square kilometres, disintegrated on March 15, according to scientists. Last week, East Antarctica experienced exceptionally mild temperatures, with Concordia station setting a new record temperature of -11.8°C on March 18, more than 40°C above seasonal norms. An atmospheric river confined heat over the continent, resulting in record temperatures. Ice shelves are over-the-water extensions of ice sheets that play a vital role in controlling inland ice. Inland ice flows quicker into the ocean without them, causing sea level rise. Dr Catherine Colello Walker, an earth and planetary scientist at Nasa, said though the Conger ice shelf was relatively small, "it is one of the most significant collapse events anywhere in Antarctica since the early 2000s when the Larsen B ice shelf disintegrated." "It won’t have huge effects, most likely, but it’s a sign of what might be coming," Walker said. Complete collapse of East Antarctica's Conger Ice Shelf (~1200 sq. km) ~March 15, seen in combo of #Landsat and #MODIS imagery. Possible it hit its tipping point following the #Antarctic #AtmosphericRiver and heatwave too? #CongerIceShelf #Antarctica @helenafricker @icy_pete https://t.co/7dP5d6isvd pic.twitter.com/1wzmuOwdQn — Catherine Colello Walker (@CapComCatWalk) March 24, 2022 × (With inputs from agencies)

An ice shelf about the size of Rome completely collapsed in Antarctica

Antarctica's "Doomsday Glacier" could collapse in 5 years. The melting ice puts millions of lives at risk. Climate change is now emerging as an international security threat. But, world powers are still playing politics over it. Palki Sharma tells you how.

Gravitas: Antarctica's Doomsday Glacier could displace millions

According to scientists, Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier, commonly referred to as the "doomsday glacier" could shatter within the next five years.

Antarctica's "Doomsday Glacier" could collapse in five years

According to scientists, an ice shelf holding a critical glacier in Antarctica could shatter within the next five years. They say a floating section at the front of Thwaites Glacier that until now has been relatively stable could "shatter like a car windscreen".

Ice shelf of Thwaites glacier can collapse in five years, says scientists

The melting of a West Antarctic glacier threatens to cause the world's greatest rise in sea levels before 2100, scientists have said, warning that an ice shelf holding it back from the sea could collapse within three to five years.

The Thwaites glacier, which spans 120 kilometres and is nearly the size of Great Britain or the US state of Florida, would raise sea levels by 65 cm, or more than two feet, if it all fell into the ocean, the American Geophysical Union's fall meeting in New Orleans was told on December 13.

Its melting is currently responsible for around 4% of global sea level increase.&nbsp;

According to satellite pictures, the glacier stands on an ice shelf that is prone to failure due to newly discovered fractures on its surface and a massive fracture throughout the entire shelf.

The eastern ice shelf is being eroded by rising ocean temperatures, which are propelled in part by human-caused climate change.

According to the experts, if the shelf breaks away, the glacier's contribution to sea level rise might jump by as much as 25%.&nbsp;

Ice loss in Antarctica has accelerated in recent years, and research suggests that if global warming exceeds three degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels, a dangerous amount of sea level rise will occur.

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The Earth's temperature has already risen by one degree Celsius. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scary-doomsday-glacier-may-be-melting-faster-than-expected-376862">Also read | Scary: Doomsday glacier may be melting faster than expected</a>

However, data gathered by researchers beneath and around the shelf over the last two years indicates that the brace will not last much longer.

Watch | Study: The 'Most Dangerous' glacier is melting

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/study-the-most-dangerous-glacier-is-melting-234907/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Warm ocean waters are slowly but steadily eroding the ice from underneath.

The glacier's ice shelf is moving inland as it loses mass, and it will eventually disappear behind the submerged mountain that is pinning it in place.

Meanwhile, these waters have expanded fractures and crevasses in the ice, which are snaking through it like cracks in a car glass, shattering and weakening it.&nbsp;

According to NASA satellite data, global sea levels would rise two to six feet by 2100 if current trends continue, owing primarily to melting in Greenland and Antarctica.

However, scientists have warned that forecasts of sea level rise understate the impact of climate change.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The melting of a West Antarctic glacier threatens to cause the world's greatest rise in sea levels before 2100, scientists have said, warning that an ice shelf holding it back from the sea could collapse within three to five years.

The melting of a West Antarctic glacier threatens to cause the world's greatest rise in sea levels before 2100, scientists have said, warning that an ice shelf holding it back from the sea could collapse within three to five years. The Thwaites glacier, which spans 120 kilometres and is nearly the size of Great Britain or the US state of Florida, would raise sea levels by 65 cm, or more than two feet, if it all fell into the ocean, the American Geophysical Union's fall meeting in New Orleans was told on December 13. Its melting is currently responsible for around 4% of global sea level increase. According to satellite pictures, the glacier stands on an ice shelf that is prone to failure due to newly discovered fractures on its surface and a massive fracture throughout the entire shelf. The eastern ice shelf is being eroded by rising ocean temperatures, which are propelled in part by human-caused climate change. According to the experts, if the shelf breaks away, the glacier's contribution to sea level rise might jump by as much as 25%. Ice loss in Antarctica has accelerated in recent years, and research suggests that if global warming exceeds three degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels, a dangerous amount of sea level rise will occur. × The Earth's temperature has already risen by one degree Celsius. Also read | Scary: Doomsday glacier may be melting faster than expected However, data gathered by researchers beneath and around the shelf over the last two years indicates that the brace will not last much longer. Watch | Study: The 'Most Dangerous' glacier is melting Warm ocean waters are slowly but steadily eroding the ice from underneath. The glacier's ice shelf is moving inland as it loses mass, and it will eventually disappear behind the submerged mountain that is pinning it in place. Meanwhile, these waters have expanded fractures and crevasses in the ice, which are snaking through it like cracks in a car glass, shattering and weakening it. According to NASA satellite data, global sea levels would rise two to six feet by 2100 if current trends continue, owing primarily to melting in Greenland and Antarctica. However, scientists have warned that forecasts of sea level rise understate the impact of climate change. (With inputs from agencies)

This ice shelf the size of UK is melting so fast it could raise sea levels by over 2 feet

A giant ice-covered lake in Antarctica disappeared into thin air, causing panic among the scientific community. According to researchers, the lake disappeared in 2019’s winter season on the Amery Ice Shelf in East Antarctica.&nbsp;

Estimates claim that 600-750 million cubic metres (21-26 billion cubic feet) of water drained into the ocean. Once the ice shelf beneath the lake gave way, the water drained in less than three days, as per observations from satellites.

What really happened?

According to Roland Warner, a glaciologist at the University of Tasmania and lead author of the new study focusing on this event in a statement said that the water’s weight in this lake created a fissure in the ice-shelf beneath the lake.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronomers-use-artificial-intelligence-to-reveal-the-true-shape-of-universe-396217" hreflang="en">Astronomers use artificial intelligence to reveal the true shape of universe</a>

This caused “the water to drain away to the ocean below”, he said. And this process has a name. Called “hydrofracturing”, this phenomenon&nbsp;occurs when water which is denser and heavier than ice cracks ice sheets open, causing major drainage into the sea.&nbsp;To help with measurements, researches used observations from NASA’s ICESat-2 satellite which helps scientists find the elevation of a target.

In the aftermath of such events, the structural integrity of the ice sheet as a whole is compromised with a gigantic fissure left behind.

The dangers of hydrofracturing

Climate change is melting ice caps faster than ever imagined by scientists and water levels continue to threaten coastal cities and towns across the world.&nbsp;

Scientists fear that as more surface water continues to melt, more instances of hydrofracturing could take place - at a scale unseen before. In turn, this could increase the flow of fresh water into the ocean.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/explosion-on-sun-equivalent-to-millions-of-hydrogen-bombs-causes-biggest-solar-flare-in-4-years-396003" hreflang="en">Explosion on Sun equivalent to millions of hydrogen bombs causes biggest solar flare in 4 years</a>

As a natural consequence, sea levels around the globe could rise much faster than previously calculated.

The study was published in the journal titled “Geophysical Research Letters” on June 23. The authors claim that surface melting in Antarctica is expected to double by 2050, increasing fears of ice shelves’ deterioration.

In the study, authors noted that hydro fracture remains an understudied process, making its consequences unpredictable.&nbsp;

A giant ice-covered lake in Antarctica disappeared into thin air, causing panic among the scientific community. According to researchers, the lake disappeared in 2019’s winter season on the Amery Ice Shelf in East Antarctica.

A giant ice-covered lake in Antarctica disappeared into thin air, causing panic among the scientific community. According to researchers, the lake disappeared in 2019’s winter season on the Amery Ice Shelf in East Antarctica. Estimates claim that 600-750 million cubic metres (21-26 billion cubic feet) of water drained into the ocean. Once the ice shelf beneath the lake gave way, the water drained in less than three days, as per observations from satellites. What really happened? According to Roland Warner, a glaciologist at the University of Tasmania and lead author of the new study focusing on this event in a statement said that the water’s weight in this lake created a fissure in the ice-shelf beneath the lake. Also read: Astronomers use artificial intelligence to reveal the true shape of universe This caused “the water to drain away to the ocean below”, he said. And this process has a name. Called “hydrofracturing”, this phenomenon occurs when water which is denser and heavier than ice cracks ice sheets open, causing major drainage into the sea. To help with measurements, researches used observations from NASA’s ICESat-2 satellite which helps scientists find the elevation of a target. In the aftermath of such events, the structural integrity of the ice sheet as a whole is compromised with a gigantic fissure left behind. The dangers of hydrofracturing Climate change is melting ice caps faster than ever imagined by scientists and water levels continue to threaten coastal cities and towns across the world. Scientists fear that as more surface water continues to melt, more instances of hydrofracturing could take place - at a scale unseen before. In turn, this could increase the flow of fresh water into the ocean. Also read: Explosion on Sun equivalent to millions of hydrogen bombs causes biggest solar flare in 4 years As a natural consequence, sea levels around the globe could rise much faster than previously calculated. The study was published in the journal titled “Geophysical Research Letters” on June 23. The authors claim that surface melting in Antarctica is expected to double by 2050, increasing fears of ice shelves’ deterioration. In the study, authors noted that hydro fracture remains an understudied process, making its consequences unpredictable.

What caused a giant Antarctic lake to completely disappear in three days?

ice-shelf

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