Northern ice front of Wilkins Ice Shelf is becoming unstable

Following the loss of an ice bridge on the Antarctic Wilkins Ice Shelf, the northern ice front is now becoming unstable. The first icebergs broke off at this point on 20 April 2009. This was observed by scientists using the TerraSAR-X Earth observation satellite operated by the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR). “We anticipate that, over the next days and weeks, an area of 570 to 3370 square kilometres will break away before – hopefully – a new and more stable northern ice front will form”, states Dr Angelika Humbert, a glaciologist at the University of Munster’s Geophysics Institute. The spectacular break-up events on the Wilkins Ice Shelf in 2008 caused the ice bridge between Charcot and Latady Island, measuring some 40 to 50 kilometres in length, to be cut to a width of just 900 metres at its narrowest point. This plate of ice, only 250 metres thick, finally broke off on 5 April 2008. … The disintegration of the ice shelves reduces this restraining force, causing the movement of ice masses lying behind them to accelerate. This in turn causes more ice to flow into the ocean, causing sea levels to rise. Over the last 30 years, seven ice shelves have retreated across large areas or have completely broken away, causing a loss in surface area amounting to 25,000 square kilometres. …

Northern Ice Front Of Wilkins Ice Shelf Is Becoming Unstable