As the Larsen C ice shelf moves closer to calving one of the largest icebergs on record, there are clear signs of changes in the part of the shelf which is about to calve. In late June 2017, the soon-to-be iceberg tripled in speed, producing the fastest flow speeds ever recorded on Larsen C, and seemed to be on the verge of breaking free.
The latest data from 6th July reveal that, in a release of built-up stresses, the rift branched several times. Using data from ESA’s Sentinel-1 satellites, we can see that there are multiple rift tips now within 5 km of the ice edge. We expect that these rifts will lead to the formation of several smaller icebergs, as well as the large iceberg which we estimate will have an area of 5,800 sq km. Despite this, the iceberg remains attached to the shelf by a thin band of ice. It is remarkable how the moment of calving is still keeping us waiting.
http://www.projectmidas.org/blog/multiple-branches/
There is a nice animation showing the rift growth since just last year: http://www.projectmidas.org/assets/rift_insar_animation_july.gif
(Score: 2) by HiThere on Sunday July 09 2017, @06:05PM
I don't think it's fair to say that they are unrelated to climate change. It *is* fair to say that no direct link can be established to any particular event. But temperature of the ice affects the speed with which the glacier (on land) moves, and so does any subsurface melt...which is affected by the general temperature of the air which is affected by global warming. (Actually by any climate change, but the Arctic and Antarctic regions are warming during the current change.)
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.