A massive iceberg has just broken away from Antarctica, and it’s making scientists worry for the future
It’s estimated to weigh a trillion tonnes, and has an area of 5800 sq km, the size of a small country
The iceberg detached from the West Antarctic ice shelf Larsen C, which could now become highly unstable
Researchers at Swanlea University had been watching the glacial divide for months using satellite imagery
Though it may be too early to tell, this fracture in the polar landscape could be the product of global warming
Antarctic temperatures are rising rapidly, causing ice sheets to break apart and drift into the Atlantic Ocean
That rogue ice disrupts maritime safety, then melts, causing water levels all around the world to rise
Polar animal species, like emperor penguins, are also threatened by the slow decimation of their habitats
This giant iceberg will now be monitored intensely, as will the resulting fragility of the glaciers it left behind
Watch this informative video by the British Antarctic Survey to learn more:
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