Singapore-sized iceberg threatens global shipping
November 22, 2013 Leave a comment
Singapore-sized iceberg threatens global shipping
LONDON — An iceberg estimated to be about the size of Singapore has broken off from Antarctica and could threaten shipping, NASA’s Earth Observatory announced on Nov 15.
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LONDON — An iceberg estimated to be about the size of Singapore has broken off from Antarctica and could threaten shipping, NASA’s Earth Observatory announced on Nov 15. The news sparked off tracking efforts by UK researchers, who were given a £50,000 (S$101,000) emergency grant to fund a six-month project predicting the movements of the 700 square km giant block of ice and possible environmental impacts. The team will track the progress of the iceberg through satellite data, reported The Daily Telegraph.The iceberg broke off from the Pine Island Glacier four months ago, and while it could move eastwards along the Antarctic coast, it could also float into the South Atlantic Ocean, where researchers fear it could cross busy international shipping lanes and be hazardous to ships.
One of the largest and fastest moving glaciers in the Artarctica, the Pine Island Glacier reflects environmental issues because of its high melting rate. Two years ago, NASA scientists found a huge 30.5km crack across the glacier.
Prof Grant Bigg, project leader from the University of Sheffield, said: “Its current movement does not raise environmental issues, however a previous giant iceberg from this location eventually entered the South Atlantic and if this happens it could potentially pose a hazard to ships.
“If the iceberg stays around the Antarctic coast, it will melt slowly and will eventually add a lot of freshwater that stays in the coastal current, altering the density and affecting the speed of the current.
Similarly, if it moves north it will melt faster but could alter the overturning rates of the current as it may create a cap of freshwater above the denser seawater.
“If these events become more common, there will be a build-up of freshwater which could have lasting effects.”
The work, which also includes scientists from the University of Southampton, will also test a technique which could in the future be used by ice hazard warning services. AGENCIES
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