The Antarctic ice shelf the size of Rome has completely collapsed

Satellite data shows that the Conger Ice Shelf has separated from iceberg C-38 and collapsed. Photo: USNIC

According to The Guardian (UK), scientists say the Conger ice shelf, which has a surface area of ​​about 1,200 square kilometers, collapsed around March 15.

Last week, East Antarctica recorded unusually high temperatures. On March 18, the Concordia research station reported a record temperature of -11.8 degrees Celsius, 40 degrees Celsius warmer than the usual seasonal temperature. Scientists think that these temperatures are the result of “atmospheric rivers” that trap heat on the continent.

An ice shelf is an extension of icebergs in the ocean. They play an important role in preventing the flow of continental ice into the sea. Without them, the ice inland would flow faster than spill into the ocean causing sea levels to rise.

Dr Catherine Colello Walker, Earth scientist at NASA and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, said that although Conger is relatively small, the collapse of the ice shelf is one of the most severe events in the world. Antarctica since early 2000, after the Larsen B ice shelf melted. “Most likely, it won’t have a major impact, but it’s an indication of possible scenarios in the future,” Mr.

The Conger Ice Shelf has been shrinking since the mid-2000s. By March 4 this year, the ice shelf had lost more than half of its surface area compared to January measurements.

Peter Neff, glaciologist and assistant professor at the University of Minnesota, said the collapse of a small ice shelf in East Antarctica was a surprise. “We still consider East Antarctica as a giant block of ice, tall, dry, cold and motionless,” he said. This collapse, especially given the record high temperatures associated with atmospheric rivers in mid-March, will prompt additional studies of this process in the region.”

Satellite data from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission shows that the Conger ice shelf began to separate from Antarctica between March 5 and March 7. Professor Andrew Mackintosh at Monash University said the ocean beneath the Conger Ice Shelf had melted significantly, which may have created the conditions for it to collapse faster.

But Professor Matt King, director of Australia’s Antarctic Science Centre, said the collapse of the Conger ice shelf would have little effect on sea levels. He explained that the glacier behind the Conger Ice Shelf is quite small, so it will have a small impact on future sea levels.

Meanwhile, scientists are particularly concerned about the future of the Thwaites Glacier. Thwaites is about the size of the state of Florida – nicknamed the “doomsday glacier” – about 100 times larger than Larsen B and holds enough water to raise global sea levels by more than half a meter.

“The rate of melting of the Conger Ice Shelf reminds us that things can change quickly. Carbon emissions will have an impact on Antarctica, and the Antarctic ice shelves will come back to hit the world’s coastlines. That can happen faster than we think,” Professor King emphasized.