Massive Iceberg Breaks Off From Mertz Glacier in Antarctic After Being Rammed By Another Iceberg
26 February 2010
A joint Australian–French study has discovered the calving of a massive iceberg from the Mertz Glacier in the Australian Antarctic Territory. The iceberg, 78 kilometers long and 33 to 39 km wide with a surface area of 2,500 square kilometers, broke off the Mertz Glacier after being rammed by another massive iceberg, 97 kilometers long.
The new ice berg represents about half the length of the glacier tongue. Satellite imagery shows the iceberg separation occurred on 12 / 13 of February.
| B9B approaches the Mertz Glacier tongue 7 January 2010. Photo: Neil Young. Click to enlarge. | B9B makes contact 7 February 2010. Photo: Neal Young. Click to enlarge. | The Mertz Glacier tongue breaks off 20 February 2010. Photo: Neal Young. Click to enlarge. |
This calving event was detected by a joint French-Australian team working on a project called “CRACICE” (Cooperative Research into Antarctic Calving and Iceberg Evolution). The CRACICE team is carrying out a long-term study on how fractures developing in the Mertz Glacier Tongue lead to iceberg calving, and the fate of the icebergs and remaining glacier tongue. Their work involves surveys using satellite data and GPS beacons deployed on the glacier to measure the evolution of the rifts and the calving process.
The team has followed the development of two major rifts cutting across the tongue, from opposite sides, over many years. The rifts had almost joined, when a similarly massive iceberg, B9B, collided with the eastern flank of the tongue leading to the final separation.
The future behavior of the two icebergs is of great interest, according to the researchers. Satellite images show that the recently-calved Mertz iceberg is moving into the Adélie Depression, a coastal basin situated between the Mertz Glacier and the French Antarctic station of Dumont D’Urville to the west. This depression is one of the major sites of dense water formation which drives the world’s deep ocean circulation.
The dense water is formed from ocean water that circulates onto the continental shelf and interacts with the glacier tongue, and by high rates of sea ice formation within the Mertz Glacier polynya to the immediate west of the former glacier tongue. The future position of the two giant icebergs will likely affect local ocean circulation, the extent (and timing?) of the polynya, sea ice production, and deep water formation. It also has important implications for the marine biology of this region. A number of on-going field and research activities will follow up this calving event and its impact on the local environment.
The ACE CRC is a unique collaboration between core partners the Australian Antarctic Division, CSIRO Marine and Atmosphere, the University of Tasmania, the Bureau of Meteorology and a consortium of supporting partners. It is funded by the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centre Program.
This one of the new iceburgs is over fifty (50x) times the area of Bermuda.
No global warming here..
Posted by: kelly | 26 February 2010 at 04:38 PM
Mike - please step in and explain how this pertains to green automobile technology.
Posted by: sulleny | 26 February 2010 at 04:39 PM
.
kelly said: "No global warming here.."
No reading comprehension ability either. But I state the obvious. Let me help you. From the article:
Massive Iceberg Breaks Off From Mertz Glacier in Antarctic After Being Rammed By Another Iceberg
And:
"...broke off the Mertz Glacier after being rammed by another massive iceberg...
When you see a collision between vehicles do you blame that on Global Warming® as well?
You are the one who blamed Earth's naturally changing climate cycles on "Bush," aren't you?
Science!!!
Please keep it up! You serve the people who believe the science against human caused climate change well.
.
Posted by: The Goracle | 26 February 2010 at 05:15 PM
A guess, but CO2 increases cause global warming, global warming contributes to icebergs, and CO2 engine emissions regulations affect which auto engines are produced, besides being part of the trend toward electric vehicles.
Posted by: kelly | 26 February 2010 at 05:16 PM
Goracle, why do you think weakened melting cubes of ice bigger than many countries are colliding?
How many engineering degrees do you have?
Watch http://www.ted.com/talks/bill_gates.html? and turn off Fox News..
Posted by: kelly | 26 February 2010 at 06:18 PM
Current Antarctic temperatures: -30C. I guess that's the temperature that ice melts in alarmist's minds.
BTW this glacier IS named after Fred Murtz which is the reason why the alarmists "...got some 'splainin to do!"
Posted by: sulleny | 27 February 2010 at 04:49 AM
The collided country-sized iceberg photos begin on 7 January 2010, and "the iceberg separation occurred on 12 / 13 of February."
In the Southern Hemisphere that is SUMMER.
"The mean annual temperature of the interior is −57°C (−70°F). The coast is warmer. Monthly means at McMurdo Station range from −28°C (−18.4°F) in August to −3°C (26.6°F) in January." Wiki, and seawater ice melts at different temperatures and salinities.
Global warming affects accumulate, like CO2. Each average winter freeze is a little weaker. Each average summer melt is a little more extensive.
If there were average global cooling, shouldn't polar ice freeze more firmly in place?
As photos show, polar ice masses ARE floating to sea, melting, and will gradually increase sea level.
The photos of polar ice breakup's the size of nations are in front of your eyes and YOU STILL CAN'T SEE.
Posted by: kelly | 27 February 2010 at 06:27 AM
.
How many engineering degrees do you have?
I have two: Bachelor of Science, and a Masters degree in engineering. How many do you have?
.
Posted by: The Goracle | 27 February 2010 at 07:26 AM
Goracle, Sulleny:
Are you compensated in any way for your posts?
Do you post under multiple names?
Posted by: Kelly | 27 February 2010 at 09:29 AM
Must be all those fat people which is causing the ice break up. According to UK Gov't advisor on climate change Sir Jonathan Poritt climate change has nothing to do with transportation generated GHG. It'sall the fat people that are to blame. Check it out:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/5436335/Fat-people-causing-climate-change-says-Sir-Jonathan-Porritt.html
Posted by: Mannstein | 28 February 2010 at 10:53 AM
Climate change freaks can't make up their minds. What's it going to be the coldest winter on record
check it out:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/feedarticle/8957690#box
or the hottest January on record?
check this one out:
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/160556/Weather-Hottest-January-ever-say-climate-experts
Wish these clowns would finally get their story straight.
Posted by: Mannstein | 28 February 2010 at 11:14 AM
"Fat people causing climate change, says Sir Jonathan Porritt"
No, he didn't say that. That's just what the editor put in the title to grab your attention.
What he really said is in the small print under the title: "Fat people are harming the planet by contributing to climate change, according to Sir Jonathan Porritt, the Government's chief green adviser."
And then the article goes on to say: "He pointed out overweight people eat more protein-rich food such as beef or lamb, which is responsible for producing greenhouse gases because of the toxic methane livestock emits. He also said obese people are more likely to use cars rather than walk or cycle, therefore producing more carbon emissions."
Do you disagree that overweight people eat more protein-rich food such as beef or lamb or that obese people are more likely to use cars rather than walk or cycle?
Posted by: ai_vin | 28 February 2010 at 01:03 PM
@Mannstein
What's the problem? The first article said the UK had the coldest winter and the second article said the the world had the hottest January.
Posted by: ai_vin | 28 February 2010 at 01:13 PM
According to UEA's corrupt Climate Research Unit cold regions are local weather, hot regions are climate change.
This is why disgraced CRU director Jones and clan desperately tried to hide their data from competent scientists:
"The CRU e-mails as published on the internet provide prima facie evidence of determined and co-ordinated refusals to comply with honourable scientific traditions and freedom of information law. The principle that scientists should be willing to expose their ideas and results to independent testing and replication by others, which requires the open exchange of data, procedures and materials, is vital. The lack of compliance has been confirmed by the findings of the Information Commissioner. This extends well beyond the CRU itself – most of the e-mails were exchanged with researchers in a number of other international institutions who are also involved in the formulation of the IPCC’s conclusions on climate change.
British Institute of Physics - to Parliament 2/27/2010
Posted by: sulleny | 01 March 2010 at 05:08 AM
News is just show biz.
The press are just barkers.
Universities pump out papers with less review than is applied to an American Idol singer, politicians claim completely opposite "facts".
Professional wrestling now has more credibility than all of the above.
And I am supposed to believe in AGW?
Posted by: ToppaTom | 01 March 2010 at 05:14 PM
No, you're not supposed to just "believe in AGW." Belief is a requirement of religion, and science (no matter how much the denialists want you to "believe" otherwise) is not a world view. What you're suppose to do is look at the bulk of the evidence with skepticism; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skepticism and then decide, not decide first and then ignore all but the evidence that supports your beliefs; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denialism
Posted by: ai_vin | 02 March 2010 at 03:21 AM
"I have two: Bachelor of Science, and a Masters degree in engineering. How many do you have?"
I have waited a while to mention my degrees are in business and electrical engineering.
This is because All Hail.., Goracle, etc comments shouldn't be associated with the engineering discipline.
Posted by: kelly | 03 March 2010 at 02:55 PM