Manhattan-Size Iceberg Breaks Away from Greenland Glacier

[hue]

Source: Live Science


A massive iceberg larger than Manhattan has broken away from the floating end of a Greenland glacier this week, an event scientists predicted last autumn.

The giant ice island is 46 square miles (120 square kilometers), and separated from the terminus of the Petermann Glacier, one of Greenland's largest.

The Petermann Glacier last birthed — or "calved" — a massive iceberg two years ago, in August 2010. The iceberg that broke off and floated away was nearly four times the size of Manhattan, and one of the largest ever recorded in Greenland.

Although the new iceberg isn't as colossal as its 2010 predecessor, its birth has moved the front end of the massive glacier farther inland than it has been in 150 years, Andreas Muenchow, an associate professor of physical ocean science and engineering at the University of Delaware, said in a statement.

Read more: http://www.livescience.com/21643-iceberg-born-greenland.html

[Gregorian]

1. I was criticized yesterday for not accepting an invitation to go to Easter Island with a friend.

And I would imagine that even on a progressive forum people would shake their heads at my refusal to pump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Travel is good, isn't it?

So having been responsible my whole life, I have failed. I still have to sit and watch the destruction.

[raouldukelives]

5. You haven't failed. You have been the change you want to see.

They are just oblivious & happily ignorant of the misery they are creating for no reason but their own selfish appetites. Only when it is pointed out to them do they snarl and growl over having to come to recognition of it and the responsibility they share.
I applaud your decision as do the critters who have no voice but ours.

[Gregorian]

8. Thanks

It sure is rough. I've got a friend who is pre riding the routes of the Tour de France. He does it every year. I'd die to do that. My life revolves around the bicycle. And France would be just the best. Fuck. Maybe in another universe, another lifetime. I was saying to myself yesterday that to not use fossil fuel is to be bored and sad. They're essentially trashing the planet to have great experiences. It's a phenomenon. One which I regret to participate in. So your reply feels so good.

[angel823]

17. Do you know if there are any transatlantic passenger sailing ships still in business?

It would take substantially more time to get there, but it could be done. We should all consider this for non-essential travel.

Everyone needs to slow down any enjoy life more anyway.

Angel in Texas

[byeya]

19. I think that there are still some freighters that carry passengers across the Atlantic.

If you can find one that accepts passengers and its cargo is helpful to humanity, like medical supplies or organically
grown food, then you should be able to fulfill your dream without having to compromise your principles.

[wordpix]

23. Gregorian, I support you & understand

I have the same feelings. Very well stated about the phenomenon , which I totally see, too. Trashing the planet is the right phrase, and travel by fossil fuels is definitely one way to do it.

But you seem sad to miss these opportunities--- so maybe one trip overseas, just one trip for that one great experience? And once you get to Europe, you bike from there.

Of course, you could always sail there, too. There are always sailors looking for crew members.

[onehandle]

2. Manhattan-Size Icebergs have a liberal bias. nt

[KurtNYC]

30. and they have room for 171 Starbucks

[patrice]

3. K&R

[benld74]

4. Free ICE! Get your free ice here!

[nichomachus]

6. You liberals are never happy

First you complain that the ocean is getting too hot. Then when we pray to Jesus and he dumps in some ice to cool it off, you get all nasty. You're never satisfied.

[mitchtv]

7. get the tugs going

and drag it somewhere it's needed like Spain

[DCBob]

9. The question is..

as these ice shelfs break off will that allow more land based iced to move faster into the ocean. If that happens then sea levels will rise even faster. Some have speculated that the huge ice shelfs hold back the land ice and as they break off the land ice will begin to slide into the water. Its not been proven but it would seem to make sense.

[SkyDaddy7]

11. As far as I know...

It is observed fact that floating ice shelves that break off do speed up the flow of land based ice...These events are taking place all over the world & with sophisticated satellite systems like GRACE they are able to keep precise records on how the ice moves.

[DCBob]

13. I think its still a bit controversial however there is data supporting it.

here's some articles discussing it..

http://www.earthtimes.org/climate/ice-shelf-collapse-causes-glacial-surge/1187/
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/larsen-collapse.html

Obviously its a very complex process depending on size, weight, friction, etc. I think its a bit like predicting an earthquake.

[SkyDaddy7]

21. Thanks for the articles...

I read both & I am confused on how you came to a completely different conclusion than I...Especially the idea that this is the same as predicting earthquakes. Despite one or two lucky guesses we have never predicted Earthquakes but researchers have predicted glacier loss would speed up if crucial ice shelves collapsed & that is exactly what has been observed.

I think we have a far better understanding of this than you claim...But that is just my opinion. Of course it requires on going study but it sure appears they know what they are talking about unlike Earthquake prediction.

Again, thanks for the articles & feel free to send me more info should you run across it.

[DCBob]

25. The part that is most controversial is how rapid the ice could slide into the ocean.

Some scientists were speculating that water underneath the ice could act as a lubricant and help the ice to slide faster. Others suggested it had minimal impact.

Here's an aricle about it..

http://www.sciencepoles.org/news/news_detail/controversy_over_meltwater_lubrication_under_greenland_ice_sheet/

[SkyDaddy7]

29. Right!

Yes, they are not sure how fast they will begin to slide, melt or at what point we reach a tipping point & nothing we do could reverse the melting.

The truly scary part is the IPCC report says we could see 1-2ft sea level rise by 2100...But 95% of that rise is due to thermal expansion not melting of glaciers, Greenland & Antarctica...They left out sea level rise due to melting of many large glaciers, Greenland & Antarctica precisely because they have no real way to model it. So, it really is anyone's guess how much sea level rise we will see in this century.

Did you see the news yesterday about Greenland melting? NOT GOOD!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/24/greenland-ice-melt-nasa_n_1698129.html

Thanks for the article!!

[DCBob]

32. The Greenland melt is really bizarre.

Very odd and yet another indication things are not normal.

[NickB79]

16. How fast does sherbert run again?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/112720122

On July 16, they surveyed an ice sheet in the northwestern region of the land mass, located at an altitude of 1,500 meters. They found the surface of the ice had melted and become "like sherbet" as temperatures reached 2 degrees. They also observed rainfall of around 10 centimeters over a three-day period.

Teruo Aoki, senior researcher at the Meteorological Research Institute of the Japan Meteorological Agency who took part in the observations for three weeks, expressed his surprise. "I had not expected rain to fall there," he said. "The melting was greater than expected."

[hue]

10. more evidence of global warming!!!

"The Greenland ice sheet as a whole is shrinking, melting and reducing in size as the result of globally changing air and ocean temperatures and associated changes in circulation patterns in both the ocean and atmosphere," Muenchow said.

[wordpix]

24. don't be fooled. The Republicants say it's not happening

[amandabeech]

12. The Titanic II is being built in China for

Australian, I think, interests.

Time to get 'er done, sail across the Pacific through the Panama Canal pretty quick in order to meet this iceberg.

[may3rd]

14. That also happened in 2010

only it was said to be four times the size of Manhatten

[Brigid]

15. I hope that iceberg smack right into the house of the biggest climate change denier in the country.

Poetic justice, ya know.

[BeHereNow]

18. +1

Justice of any kind, poetic or otherwise, would be good.
BHN

[byeya]

20. At this point I don't want justice, only mercy.

[maxrandb]

22. The Limbaugh Dildo-heads and Tea Baggers

will be here soon to put us all at ease with their "ice melting in a glass of water" 'sperimunt'

[Berlum]

26. "Liberals socialists are doing this to make 'global warming' look like its real." - Rush Limbaugh-R

?w=640

[greymattermom]

27. it will be real

when the beach in front of Rush's house becomes a tidal beach.

[Berlum]

28. I think he figures he'll be dead by then, so screw everyone else

Rush is grabbing all the blood money he can now from his corporate Republican cronies, and obviously he does not give a shit about the "little people" or anyone coming after his drug-addled AWOL carcass is swallowed up in the skank-besmirched, honorless bowels of Hades. He is happy to prattle Republican lies as long as the money keeps coming.

[hue]

31. If Limbaugh would shut his yapper the planet's temp might drop a degree,

but it looks like that's not possible!!

[RebelOne]

33. Every time I read about a glacier or iceberg breaking off,

it is always Manhattan-size. Isn't there any other comparison?