Giant icebergs have been breaking off the edge of Pine Island ice shelf
NASA/Brooke Medley
A recent study has revealed alarming developments in West Antarctica, specifically concerning the Pine Island glacier. This glacier, known for its fast-melting nature, has shown a significant increase in speed since 2017, indicating a potential breakdown of the floating ice shelf that previously held back the ice.
Considered the fastest-flowing glacier in Antarctica, Pine Island glacier is a major contributor to rising sea levels. It is a crucial component of the West Antarctic ice sheet, which has the capacity to raise global sea levels by 5.3 meters if fully melted.
The Pine Island ice shelf, located in front of the glacier, plays a vital role in stabilizing the inland ice and protecting it from warm water. It acts as a buttress, holding back an amount of ice equivalent to 51 centimeters of sea-level rise.
The instability of Pine Island glacier, along with its neighboring Thwaites glacier, has raised concerns about the overall sustainability of the West Antarctic ice sheet, with potential implications for sea-level rise.
Research conducted by Sarah Wells-Moran from the University of Chicago and her team utilized satellite imagery to track the movement of Pine Island glacier over several decades. The findings indicated a substantial increase in glacier velocity, from 2.2 kilometers per year in 1974 to nearly 5 kilometers per year by 2023.
During the period from 1973 to 2013, the rate of ice discharge from Pine Island glacier surged by more than 75%, leading to a significant retreat of the glacier’s grounding line by over 30 kilometers.
The study attributed the rapid acceleration of the glacier to the thinning and fracturing of the ice shelf, caused by warmer sea water infiltrating underneath. This has resulted in the detachment of the ice shelf from the surrounding ice, hastening the loss of ice from West Antarctica.
Sue Cook from the University of Tasmania highlighted that calving alone cannot explain the glacier’s accelerated movement, emphasizing the role of increased damage in the shear margins of the glacier. This aligns with the study’s conclusions, indicating a shift in the glacier’s dynamics.
Experts like Ted Scambos from the University of Colorado and Nerilie Abram from the Australian Antarctic Division underscore the gravity of the situation, highlighting the imminent impact of continued ice loss from this region on global coastlines.
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