threaded | unthreaded | newest first

Ice mass snaps free from Canada's Arctic

topic posted Fri, December 29, 2006 - 9:49 AM by  Jon
41 sq mile ice sheet breaks free; global warming in region likely to blame say scientists:

news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061...c_ice_break
posted by:
Jon
offline Jon
SF Bay Area
34 friends
join to post
  • Val
    Val
    offline 33

    Re: Ice mass snaps free from Canada's Arctic

    Tue, January 2, 2007 - 9:55 PM
    it's interesting to me that it actually happened a while ago.

    <snip>
    Laurie Weir, who monitors ice conditions for the Canadian Ice Service, was poring over satellite images in 2005 when she noticed that the shelf had split and separated.

    Weir notified Luke Copland, head of the new global ice lab at the University of Ottawa, who initiated an effort to find out what happened.

    Using U.S. and Canadian satellite images, as well as seismic data — the event registered on earthquake monitors 155 miles away — Copland discovered that the ice shelf collapsed in the early afternoon of Aug. 13, 2005.
    join to post
    • Jordan
      Jordan
      offline 24

      Re: Ice mass snaps free from Canada's Arctic

      Sun, February 4, 2007 - 7:10 PM
      While I wouldn't go all Chicken Little based on any one ice shelf separating, keep in mind that the _greatest_ danger is posed by a LAND-based ice mass sliding into the sea. The reason why is that when the ice falls from land to water, it will immediately increase sea levels, even while the ice is still in solid form; and of course, surrounded by water (which is by definition above the freezing point), it won't stay ice long.
      join to post
      • Roy
        Roy
        offline 42

        Re: Ice mass snaps free from Canada's Arctic

        Mon, February 5, 2007 - 8:44 PM
        Right, one ice shelf is not a global disaster. However it may not melt all that fast because it is mostly fresh water ice and the sea can be below the freezing point since the sea is salt and can get below the fresh water freezing poiunt and still be liquid.
        join to post

Recent topics in "Science Central"

Topic Author Replies Last Post
Advanced Biodiesel Classes 0 August 12, 2008
UFOs---are they real Adam 30 May 25, 2008
Current Research in Modern Physics offlineROb 0 March 22, 2008
Hormone Spray Elicits Trust in Humans Richard 2 February 21, 2008