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from the should-start-a-lottery-on-when-it-finally-calves dept.
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: 3, Informative) by bradley13 on Sunday July 09 2017, @05:43PM (1 child)
No, no tsunami risk. No change in sea level. This is sea ice, meaning that it is floating on the ocean, so there will be no change in water displacement when it moves.
While spectacularly large, thus is basically a normal event for an ice shelf. It will be interesting to see if / how fast /in which direction it drifts.
Everyone is somebody else's weirdo.
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Monday July 10 2017, @01:18PM
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves