Delaware Sized Iceberg Hanging On A Thread To Break Free From Antarctica; Scientists Warn

• comments
• 
• 

A large chunk of iceberg hanging on by the thread is expected to break free. The massive sized iceberg is all set to break free from the Antarctic region. As per the scientists, it is expected to become one of the biggest iceberg breakage recorded in the history.

According to CNN, the iceberg, Larsen C, is one of the sprawling sheets of ice found in western Antarctica. It is attached to another body of the iceberg by 12.4 miles or 20 kilometers, as per the UK project team, MIDAS.

Interestingly, the researchers and scientists believe that once it breaks free from the parent body, the crack is expected to produce an iceberg that would be about 5000 square kilometers or around 1930 square miles. Shocking!

The researchers at MIDAS, in August, had reported that the cracks in Larsen C had grown about 22 kilometers in just six months. The drift was noted to have increased in December to 11 miles or 18 kilometers more. Even though this is not the first time that the Antarctic has witnessed such an iceberg drift. However, the Larsen C's split would definitely change the continent's landscape, sooner or later.

As per a statement published on MIDAS website, Professor Adrian Luckman, the lead researcher, said, "When it calves, the Larsen C Ice Shelf will lose more than 10% of its area to leave the ice front at its most retreated position ever recorded; this event will fundamentally change the landscape of the Antarctic Peninsula."

According to The Guardian, a researcher at MIDAS, Martin O'Leary has mentioned that the iceberg drift might make the remaining sheet of ice unstable, which would in return make the sea levels rise and bring a drastic change to the Antartic landscape.

O'Leary further added that considering the impact the iceberg would have on the ocean, it would be quite an interesting thing to witness. However, there are no dangers as such associated with this situation. According to O'Leary, this situation also wouldn't have an impact on climate change, whatsoever.