Larsen C Ice Shelf

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) recently captured this video footage of a huge crack in the Larsen C Ice Shelf, on the Antarctic Peninsula.

Currently a huge iceberg, roughly the size of Norfolk, looks set to break off Larsen C Ice Shelf, which is more than twice the size of Wales. Satellite observations from February 2017 show a growing crack in the ice shelf which suggests that an iceberg with an area of more than 5,000 km² is likely to calve soon.

Researchers from the UK-based MIDAS project, led by Swansea University, have reported several rapid elongations of the crack in recent years. BAS scientists are involved in a long-running research programme to monitor ice shelves to understand the causes and implications of the rapid changes observed in the region. They shot this footage as they flew over the ice shelf on their way to collect science equipment.

During the current Antarctic field season, a glaciology research team has been on Larsen C using seismic techniques to survey the seafloor beneath the ice shelf. Because a break up looks likely the team did not set up camp on the ice as usual. Instead they made one-off trips by twin otter aircraft supported from the UK’s Rothera Research Station.

Ice shelves in normal situations produce an iceberg every few decades. There is not enough information to know whether the expected calving event on Larsen C is an effect of climate change or not, although there is good scientific evidence that climate change has caused thinning of the ice shelf. Once the iceberg has calved, the big question is whether Larsen C will start to retreat.

[troysincomb]

If you don't know basic principals of thermodynamics, don't call climate change fake just because you can't understand the science behind it.

[enderdas]

I bet you this is because of Club penguin...

[BobCat]

bring it to me! i have jumbo freezer in my basement - we can refreeze it and put it back... no biggie

[milothedangerous]

if an ice cube in my glass breaks in half, will my drink level rise?

[sully]

yes are we doomed as a species? It may sound bad, but I hope we are... Put us out of our misery.

[-kxvin-]

Don't worry guys Trump will build a wall around the glacier so it doesn't fall off and then make the penguins pay for it problem solved

[hankrearden]

When you put a giant ice cube in the water it makes it freezing. So it will just freeze back on again. Don't know what everyone gets so worried about.

[RappingRyan]

look at this giant crack in the ice. when it breaks off, bad things will happen. so we took a giant boat by it to show you.
lol

[hex]

What are those scratch marks on the Ice shelf and also on A-68?

[ClubMayview]

considering that if the earth's tectonic plates are in motion as we were taught, is it any c surprise that a crack might appear somewhere on earth, especially in a place where we can't even see the land mass?

[idontknow]

"It makes a hug iceberg?" We don't have to worry about the icebergs melting anymore. 8D

[silbeg]

Why doesn't the ice re-freeze? I understand there is incredible stress due to currents, the mass of the shelf, and the sheer of the existing crack. Still, it is not moving fast--not to0 fast to freeze. Surely the temperature remains well below freezing at the height of summer.

[fernandoandrade]

guess I should allow the government to tax my carbon use now because politicians will use my money to solve this issue

[GhandiTheSlav]

How does this relate to New Swabia and the Hollow earth theory?

[badbeatslayer]

I did not understand where is this crack .... not clear enough.

[xaalcarlsonanimations]

"Jim?"
"yeah?"


were gonna need more Spackle.

[timsouthwell]

Based on crack rate, what is estimated time to calving?

[brackonstudios]

That doesn't look like any crack I've seen, I mean I know it's supposed to be really wide, but this just looks like someone plowed through a lot of snow for a few miles.

[CPK]

It's ice, it will eventually freeze back

[ddstar]

Egyptians and almost every ancient civilization talked about this. They put it down to perturbations of the earth. Eventually, the sun causes just enough heat to melt ice, the ice shifts into the ocean causing sea level rise and the sea level rise causes even a larger shift in temperatures. There is no way we can stop this. Get to higher ground if you are worried. Also, watch Graham Hancocks quest for the lost civilization. Lots of underwater structures that date just around the last ice melting.