Wednesday, March 26, 2008



Another ice shelf collapses

New Scientist reports that the Wilkins ice shelf is in the process of breaking up,and is now hanging by a thread. Currently, the shelf is being held back from total collapse by a thin ice berm, only 6km wide - but if this goes, then the entire shelf will likely collapse within weeks. This won't cause any sea-level rise - ice-shelves float - but its a stark reminder of what could happen to some of the larger ice shelves such as the Ross or Ronne as the Antarctic warms.