An ice sheet in West Antarctica is breaking from the inside out. The ocean is melting the interior of the Pine Island Glacier, which is about the size of Texas, and the crack seems to be accelerating. Higher ocean temperatures are causing the ice to shrink at an accelerating rate, and it’s eroding the ice fringing the continent. That, in turn, opens the ice sheet to further contact with warmer ocean water and increases the amount of ice running into the ocean. As the glaciers melt they contribute significantly to global sea-level rise. The increase of sea levels leads to flooding of coastal cities and can hurt many sea creatures who's habitats are being disturbed. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/antarctica-ice-shelf-is-breaking-from-the-inside-out/
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Gisselle PazArchives
December 2016
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