A huge iceberg, the size of the UK county of Bedfordshire, has broken off the Brunt Ice Shelf.

The phenomenon is known as calving and comes almost a decade after scientists at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) first detected the growth of vast cracks in the ice.

The first indication that a calving event was imminent came in November 2020 when a new chasm – named North Rift – headed towards another large chasm near the Stancomb-Wills Glacier Tongue 35 km (21.7 miles) away.

It's the third major crack in the ice shelf that's become active in the last ten years.

During January, the rift pushed northeast at up to 1 km(0.62 miles) per day, cutting through the 150 meters (492 feet) thick floating ice shelf.  

The iceberg was formed when the crack widened several hundred meters in a few hours on the morning of 26th February, finally breaking free from the rest of the floating ice shelf.

The calving is not expected to pose a threat to BAS's Halley Research Station which is located on the Brunt ice shelf.

Share:
More In Science
Climate Change May Force More Farmers and Ranchers to Consider Irrigation -- at a Steep Cost
Irrigation might have saved Jackson's hay, but she and her husband rejected the idea about 10 years ago over the cost: as much as $75,000 for a new well and all the equipment. But now — with an extended drought and another U.S. heat wave this week that will broil her land about an hour northwest of Dallas for days in 100-degree-plus temperatures — Jackson said she is “kind of rethinking.”
Load More