A Crack in an Antarctic Ice Shelf Grew 17 Miles in the Last Two Months

Jugal K. Patel, reporting for The New York Times:

A rapidly advancing crack in Antarctica’s fourth-largest ice shelf has scientists concerned that it is getting close to a full break. The rift has accelerated this year in an area already vulnerable to warming temperatures. Since December, the crack has grown by the length of about five football fields each day.

“The iceberg is likely to break free within the next few months,” said Adrian J. Luckman of Swansea University in Wales, who is a lead researcher for Project Midas. “The rift tip has moved from one region of likely softer ice to another, which explains its step-wise progress.”

Terrifically well illustrated.

★ Tuesday, 7 February 2017