Huge Arctic ice break discovered

**Adam** · 29th December 2006, 05:13 PM

Ellesmere island is about 800km (500 miles) from the North Pole

Scientists have discovered that an enormous ice shelf broke off an island in the Canadian Arctic last year, in what could be sign of global warming.

It is said to be the largest break in 25 years, casting an ice floe with an area of 66 sq km (25 square miles).

It occurred in August 2005 but was only recently detected on satellite images.

The chunk of ice bigger than Manhattan could wreak havoc if it moves into oil drilling regions and shipping lanes next summer, scientists warned.

For something that large to move that quickly is quite amazing

Luke Copland, University of Ottawa

"The Arctic is all frozen up for the winter and it's stuck in the sea ice about 50km (30 miles) off the coast,"
said Luke Copland, an assistant professor at the University of Ottawa.
"The risk is that next summer, as that sea ice melts, this large ice island can then move itself around off the coast and one potential path for it is to make its way westward toward the Beaufort Sea where there is lots of oil and gas exploration, oil rigs and shipping."

'Quite amazing'

The ice break was initially undetected due to the remoteness of the northern coast of Ellesmere island, which is about 800km (500 miles) from the North Pole.

Satellite images showed the 15km (9mile)
crack, then the ice floating about 1km (0.6 miles) from the coast within about an hour, said Mr Copland, a specialist in glaciers and ice masses.
"You could stand at one edge and not see the other side, and for something that large to move that quickly is quite amazing," he said.

Mr Copland said a combination of low accumulations of sea ice around the edges of the ice mass, as well as the Arctic's warmest temperatures on record, contributed to the break.

The region was 3C (5.4F) above average in the summer of 2005, he said.
Ice shelves in Canada's far north have shrunk by as much as 90% since 1906.

"It's hard to tie one event to climate change, but when you look at the longer-term trend, the bigger picture, we've lost a lot of ice shelves on northern Ellesmere in the past century.

"This is that continuing and this is the biggest one in the last 25 years," he said.

29th December 2006, 07:47 PM

One of them "this is how you Tankeray" Ad's gone terribley terribley wrong...

**DiP** · 30th December 2006, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordsirscott

One of them "this is how you Tankeray" Ad's gone terribley terribley wrong...

29th December 2006, 05:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
Adam Lead Administrator Owner Join Date: Oct 1990 Posts: 5,874 My Mood: Thanks: 41 Thanked 394 Times in 143 Posts	Huge Arctic ice break discovered Huge Arctic ice break discovered Ellesmere island is about 800km (500 miles) from the North Pole Scientists have discovered that an enormous ice shelf broke off an island in the Canadian Arctic last year, in what could be sign of global warming. It is said to be the largest break in 25 years, casting an ice floe with an area of 66 sq km (25 square miles). It occurred in August 2005 but was only recently detected on satellite images. The chunk of ice bigger than Manhattan could wreak havoc if it moves into oil drilling regions and shipping lanes next summer, scientists warned. For something that large to move that quickly is quite amazing Luke Copland, University of Ottawa "The Arctic is all frozen up for the winter and it's stuck in the sea ice about 50km (30 miles) off the coast," said Luke Copland, an assistant professor at the University of Ottawa. "The risk is that next summer, as that sea ice melts, this large ice island can then move itself around off the coast and one potential path for it is to make its way westward toward the Beaufort Sea where there is lots of oil and gas exploration, oil rigs and shipping." 'Quite amazing' The ice break was initially undetected due to the remoteness of the northern coast of Ellesmere island, which is about 800km (500 miles) from the North Pole. Satellite images showed the 15km (9mile) crack, then the ice floating about 1km (0.6 miles) from the coast within about an hour, said Mr Copland, a specialist in glaciers and ice masses. "You could stand at one edge and not see the other side, and for something that large to move that quickly is quite amazing," he said. Mr Copland said a combination of low accumulations of sea ice around the edges of the ice mass, as well as the Arctic's warmest temperatures on record, contributed to the break. The region was 3C (5.4F) above average in the summer of 2005, he said. Ice shelves in Canada's far north have shrunk by as much as 90% since 1906. "It's hard to tie one event to climate change, but when you look at the longer-term trend, the bigger picture, we've lost a lot of ice shelves on northern Ellesmere in the past century. "This is that continuing and this is the biggest one in the last 25 years," he said. __________________ Get your own personal forum Like these ones - Personal forum listing Bored @ work? Play in our arcade! Useful Tips on how to use UOForums Open your own blog

29th December 2006, 07:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
lordsirscott Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Huge Arctic ice break discovered One of them "this is how you Tankeray" Ad's gone terribley terribley wrong...

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
[NEWS] 3 Bodies discovered adrift near "Defiance Point"	Adm. Hawke	Chesapeake	0	30th January 2008 01:35 PM
Arctic summers ice-free 'by 2013'	Adam	Hot Topics	6	14th December 2007 03:28 PM
Arctic melt faster than forecast	Adam	Hot Topics	3	1st May 2007 02:27 AM
Exciting New Development Discovered	Tabbitha	Europa	16	14th May 2006 11:33 PM
Discovered: the missing link that solves a mystery of evolution	Adam	Hot Topics	3	7th April 2006 11:32 AM