Moving Glaciers Are A Bigger Cause For Worry Than The Massive Ice Break In Antarctica
Because it's the glaciers that will cause sea levels to rise.
The breaking of a ginormous iceberg from the fourth largest ice shelf in Antarctica led to a lot of hype among scientists, environmentalists and climate change activists around the world. Scientists confirmed that it officially broke away from the Larsen C ice shelf.
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However, scientists are also saying that it¡¯s not the detachment of the iceberg from the ice shelf that should be causing worry because that will have a tiny direct effect on sea level. As inhabitants of the planet, we should be worried about how this might lead to the entire Larsen C ice shelf becoming unstable and then breaking up eventually.
Glaciers flow from land to sea, and the ice shelf eventually absorbs their ice. Breaking up of the ice shelf causes glaciers to flow faster, thereby increasing the rate at which ice moves from land to sea. Scientists¡¯ prediction of Larsen C becoming unstable is one that is based on physics and observation of past events.
In 2002, an ice shelf neighbouring Larsen C to the north collapsed. In just six weeks, the entire ice shelf crumbled into many dozens of icebergs. And then almost immediately after, the speed of glaciers flowing into it increased and that speed continues today.
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So while scientists can¡¯t predict definite implications of the iceberg¡¯s detachment from Larsen C, but if history is anything to live by then it¡¯s possible that the increased flow rate of glaciers might eventually lead to rise in sea levels.
