Arctic spawns massive ice islands

(CNN) -- In mid-July this year, a roar echoed around one of the most remote inlets of northern Greenland -- and an island was born. No ordinary island, but a huge chunk of ice, roughly twice the size of Manhattan, that had broken from the Petermann Glacier.

Scientists gave it the romantic name of PII-2012 and watched it begin to drift slowly into the Nares Strait, which separates Greenland from Canada. Then it began to break up, spawning several smaller ice islands.

The birth of PII-2012 was no isolated event. The Petermann Glacier had lost a much larger chunk in 2010. It also broke into fragments, though that may not be the right word. One of them alone was estimated to weigh 3.5 billion tonnes, or metric tons (3.86 billion short tons), according to E. Julie Halliday, a researcher at Memorial University in Canada.

Canada's ice shelves are also retreating fast. And as the Arctic warms, both glaciers and ice-shelves are launching floating islands into the sea that may threaten shipping, the fishing industry and off-shore oil and gas platforms.

The air around northern Greenland and Ellesmere Island has warmed by about 2.5 degrees Celsius in the past 25 years. Ocean temperatures in the Arctic are also thought to have risen, though there is less data on them.

Halliday noted in a paper presented at the Arctic Technology Conference in Houston last week that while "management of a 3.5 billion-tonne ice island away from offshore structures may theoretically be possible, putting it into practice would be logistically very challenging."

One option, she said, would be to cover the surface of the ice island with carbon, which would accelerate its melting, but "the challenge then would become dealing with numerous smaller ice fragments as opposed to one large one." And even a small one could be the size of a football stadium.

Scientists are only now beginning to research these ice islands and the rate at which they melt and divide, especially as the Arctic waters warm and the restraining effect of sea ice disappears. They have been using Autonomous Underwater Vehicles -- the undersea equivalent of surveillance drones -- to map the underside of ice islands.

Uncovering the secrets of Greenland's ice

After the 2010 "calving" from the Petermann, several fragments between them containing billions of tons of ice drifted south along the Labrador coast, interfering with shipping in the Strait of Belle Isle. One traveled 150 miles (240 kilometers) in just one week.

Derek Mueller, a researcher at Carleton University in Ontario, has been following one 12 million-tonne fragment that was one of the progeny of the 2010 calving of Petermann Glacier. Nicknamed Berghaus, it was still wandering around a year later near Bylot Island in Baffin Bay before finally disintegrating in the fall of 2011.

Mueller will be presenting his research at the ArcticNet conference in Vancouver next week.

He says that in 2011 alone 3 billion tons of ice broke away from Canada's major ice shelves on the northern coast of Ellesmere Island.

Mueller told CNN that that Canada's ice shelves have been diminishing for the past century. But the rate has accelerated dramatically in recent years, and today they are just half the size they were only seven years ago.

As a graduate student, Mueller discovered a major crack in the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf in 2002. On a visit six years later he was surprised to see the shelf riven with fissures. Since then it has largely disintegrated.

The Serson Ice Shelf measured some 120 square kilometers (46 square miles) until some 60% of it broke away in 2008. Now there's just 7 square kilometers left.

"The ice shelves are on their way out," he told CNN. "In several decades they may be gone altogether."

Ice islands may pose a greater threat than icebergs because they have a relatively shallow draft, Mueller says, which is often about 40 meters (130 feet).

"This poses a significant risk to offshore platforms that are usually protected from massive icebergs by being situated in shallow waters," he said, especially as exploration for oil grows in areas such as offshore Greenland, and the Beaufort and Chukchi seas.

The same warmer temperatures that are encouraging the collapse of ice shelves are melting icebergs and ice islands before they reach the north Atlantic, according to the International Ice Patrol, a program led by the U.S. Coast Guard to protect shipping from the sort of disaster that befell the Titanic.

In recent years the number of icebergs surviving south of the 48th parallel has declined, according to the Ice Patrol.

Along with the decline in sea ice, the disappearance of ice shelves that are thought to be thousands of years old is rapidly changing the Arctic landscape.

Ice shelves harbor surprisingly diverse collections of organisms in pools of sediment, organisms that might have value as enzymes capable of functioning in extreme cold and harsh light, Mueller said.

They have also acted as a sort of barrier, protecting huge glaciers from exposure to warming waters. Now that the ice shelves are disintegrating, these glaciers -- which are up to 10 kilometers (6 miles) wide -- are thought to be melting more rapidly, and contributing to rising sea levels.

Warmer temperatures in Greenland have led to widespread flooding in the southwest of the island as the ice sheet melts at rates unprecedented in the modern era.

In the Scientific American blog last July, researcher Ben Linhoff wrote: "In the four years our camp has existed on this glacial river, more meltwater is spilling out from beneath Leverett Glacier than we've ever seen."

Were that process to continue or accelerate, many scientists say, the anticipated rise in sea levels over the next few decades may have to be revised upwards.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in its annual Arctic Report Card, published this week, said dramatic melting of the Greenland ice sheet had occurred in July, "covering about 97 percent of the ice sheet on a single day."

Martin Jeffries, co-author of the report, said on the NOAA website: "As the sea ice and snow cover retreat, we're losing bright, highly reflective surfaces, and increasing the area of darker surfaces -- both land and ocean -- exposed to sunlight. This increases the capacity to store heat within the Arctic system, which enables more melting -- a self-reinforcing cycle."

All the evidence says that what in effect is the world's source of air conditioning is getting weaker, with consequences that will be felt far below the 48th parallel.

0

Comments »

• Print
• Email
• More sharing

Click Here to Comment on this Article

Tagged : No tags for this article

Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens retiring

Student shot by cop coming to her aid

Headlines Newsview all

Seth MacFarlane Won't Host the Oscars Next Year

Only three months after Seth MacFarlane was largely criticized for his oft-offensive jokes during the February 2013 Oscar Awards, he announced on Twitter that he ... Full story

Video Appears to Show Pontiff Perform Exorcism on Wheelchair-Bound Boy After Sunday Mass

Pope Francis has been filmed appearing to perform an exorcism on a wheelchair-bound boy.  The Argentine Pope was captured on camera laying his hands on the ... Full story

Justice Department Targeted Two Fox News Channel Reporters and a Producer for Talking with Government Sources

The Fox News Channel is outraged over new revelations that three of its reporting staffers were targeted by the U.S. Department of Justice in criminal ... Full story

Did 911 Dispatcher Curse at Amanda Berry? Operator Under Investigation Over Claims He Called Kidnap Victim a 'F****** B****'

The police dispatcher who spoke to kidnap victim Amanda Berry after she escaped from the Cleveland house of horrors is being investigated over claims he ... Full story

Final Picture of Pistorius and Reeva Days Before Her Death and the Pet Monkey 'They Both Adored'

Snuggling tenderly on the sofa, Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp could not seem more in love as they share a laugh over their pet monkey ... Full story

Waitress Receives $1,000 Tip on $60.42 Meal, Suggests Trip to Italy

From dealing with difficult people to poor pay, it's not easy being a waitress. But a few grateful servers are getting lucky breaks from customers ... Full story

Jay-Z Clarifies Beyonce Baby Rumors?

Despite several reports that Beyoncé is expecting her second baby, her hubby Jay-Z has reportedly opened up to say the rumors are not true. This weekend, ... Full story

Latest Blog

Mock Abercrombie & Fitch Ad Featuring Plus-Size Blogger Is Latest to Hit Back

Both Ellen DeGeneres and Kirsty Alley have weighed in on Abercrombie & Fitch's controversial sizing policy, after the retailer was accused of purposefully excluding plus-sized customers last week. And now, a blogger has addressed the 'sizeism' issue in an open letter to CEO Mike Jefferies, creating a series of mock Abercrombie & Fitch ads, titled Attractive and Fat. Posing with a male...

0 comments

Archie Comics' Gay Kiss Stirs Controversy

It's just a quick kiss, but it's a long step forward for Archie Comics' only openly gay character Kevin Keller. The Riverdale teen finds his life turned upside down after locking lips with his boyfriend, Devon, in Pop Tate's diner, drawing the ire of at least one disapproving Riverdale mom. The woman "gets very offended and kind of pitches a bit of...

0 comments

Singer Sues McDonald's for Destroying Her Voice

A Brooklyn woman says she bit into her McDonald’s chicken sandwich one day in 2010 only to taste a piece of glass–which she says was bigger than a penny–and that it has ruined her singing voice. Jaqueline Simpson says she was a soprano for a gospel group and can no longer hit the notes she used to be able to. She...

0 comments

Hayden Panettiere Denies Engagement Rumors

Hayden Panettiere once again denied rumors that she's engaged to her Ukranian boxer boyfriend, Wladimir Klitschko, while walking the Billboard Music Awards red carpet on Sunday. According to E! news when asked whether or not she's engaged the "Nashville" star held her hand up and said: "No ring." Panettiere and Klitschko got back together in January after breaking up in 2011 following...

0 comments

'SNL' Cast Crisis: Hader, Meyers, and Other Possible Exits Dwindle Cast Down

The announcement of “Saturday Night Live” veteran members Bill Hader and Seth Meyers exiting the show has left "SNL" in a bit of a casting crisis, according to The Inquisitr today. "Saturday Night Live", NBC’s legendary award-winning late-night comedy showcase, also lost another veteran, Kristin Wiig last year. Not only was that a blow to the show, but now there have...

0 comments

Chess Referee of the 'Match of the Century' Dies at 85

Lothar Schmid, a German chess grandmaster who was the referee for three of the most contentious World Chess Championship matches ever played, including the volatile 1972 contest between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky, which he may have saved by negotiating a truce just as it seemed they were both about to quit, died Saturday in Bamberg, Germany. He was 85. Mr....

0 comments

New Jersey Sinkhole Swallows Entire Forklift and Operator

A man has been injured after getting swallowed up by a sinkhole in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The man was operating a forklift which was consumed by the hole opening up in the ground at a building complex housing a warehouse, WABC reported. According to NJ.com, the unnamed operator suffered a back injury, which is believed to be minor. The worker was...

0 comments

Ted Nugent's Brother Endorses Gun Background Checks

Rocker Ted Nugent has continued to make his views on firearms and the Second Amendment known. On Friday, his brother, former president and chief executive of Revlon, Jeffrey Nugent, also came forward to share his opinions on gun rights in a recent Washington Post op-ed. The problem? The two adamantly disagree  -- at least when it comes to universal background...

0 comments

US tornadoes: Yet more heartbreak for Oklahoma as another massive tornado touches down in highly populated suburb

Two entire schools flattened in Moore, Oklahoma after monster tornado touched down just after 3pm local timeUp to two dozen children are trapped under debris at one of the schools, Plaza Towers ElementaryAt least 51 people confirmed dead, authorities say, and at least another 145 injured in local hospitalsChildren told to hold on to the walls, while teachers shielding the...

0 comments

James Caan: 'Today's movies can't live up to the 1970s', says Godfather actor James Caan who is making a return to cinema screens

Caan, 73, is best known for his role as Sonny Corleone in The GodfatherRecent Hollywood films made him feel 'negative' about the industry By Francesca Infante PUBLISHED: 22:01 EST, 20 May 2013 | UPDATED: 22:01 EST, 20 May 2013 Return to the 70s: James Caan said he had became negative about the state of the film industry The Godfather actor James Caan has urged...

0 comments

Susan Powell: Police say Susan Powell's brother-in-law was 'heavily involved' in her disappearance as they reveal that Josh had an affair in the months before his wife vanished

Susan Cox Powell's brother-in-law Michael Powell suspected in 'helping her husband Josh get rid of the body in his car' Michael Powell, 30, lept to his death in Minneapolis, Minnesota in FebruaryWas known as a strong supporter of his brother Josh - who killed his two sons Charlie, 7, and Braden, 5, with a hatchet before blowing his house up...

0 comments

Firefighters use a ladder truck to rescue a BEAR stuck in a neighborhood tree

By Jessica Montoya Coggins PUBLISHED: 20:25 EST, 20 May 2013 | UPDATED: 21:50 EST, 20 May 2013 Firefighters in Colorado Springs had quite the operation when they rescued a black bear from a pine tree on Sunday. The bear, which weighed over 150 pounds, was asleep after it was tranquilized before the firefighters used a ladder to bring it down. The rescue occurred at the...

0 comments

'You will die you f**ks!': Bat Mitzvah chaperone's total meltdown after kid throws candy on a school bus

'Ever do that again and you will bleed, out of your f**king nose!''Drunk' brother of host goes on expletive-filled tirade, while one of the 'spoiled brats' managed to record it all By Daily Mail Reporter PUBLISHED: 20:47 EST, 20 May 2013 | UPDATED: 21:43 EST, 20 May 2013 The man charged with accompanying a bus full of kids en route home after a Bat Mitzvah...

0 comments

Eight in ten children know the passwords and pin codes to their parents' laptops, phones and computers

One in ten said their parents constantly change their passwords so they can’t get access A persistent 12 per cent said they try various combinations until they cracked the passwordOne in four have wracked-up internet bills on a parent's credit card By Daily Mail Reporter PUBLISHED: 21:40 EST, 20 May 2013 | UPDATED: 21:41 EST, 20 May 2013 Eight in ten children know...

0 comments

Oklahoma tornado: Harrowing tales emerge from devastating twister

As many as 51 people, including 20 children, confirmed dead, including seven at Plaza Towers Elementary SchoolTeacher hailed a hero for saving six children in a school bathroom after she laid on top of themMore than 120 patients reported at area hospitals By Thomas Durante and Reuters Reporter PUBLISHED: 18:39 EST, 20 May 2013 | UPDATED: 21:39 EST, 20 May 2013 Hours after a deadly...

0 comments

Mom makes daughter wear horrible thrift store clothes to ¿teach her a lesson¿ for bullying other students

By Jessica Montoya Coggins PUBLISHED: 19:19 EST, 20 May 2013 | UPDATED: 21:37 EST, 20 May 2013 A ten-year-old from Utah faced the ultimate punishment when her stepmother discovered she was bullying another student for her wardrobe: she was forced to wear thrift store clothes to feel empathy for her victim. The girl, Kaylee, had to attend school for two days in outfits that were...

0 comments

Comment on: Arctic spawns massive ice islands