'One of the largest glaciers in Antarctica is thinning four times faster than it was 10 years ago, according to research seen by the BBC.Scary and backed by science! Well it seems not as today the BBC report that:
A study of satellite measurements of Pine Island glacier in west Antarctica reveals the surface of the ice is now dropping at a rate of up to 16m a year.
Since 1994, the glacier has lowered by as much as 90m, which has serious implications for sea-level rise.
The work by British scientists appears in Geophysical Research Letters.
The team was led by Professor Duncan Wingham of University College London (UCL).
...
Calculations based on the rate of melting 15 years ago had suggested the glacier would last for 600 years. But the new data points to a lifespan for the vast ice stream of only another 100 years.
...
Professor Box told BBC News: "The science community has been surprised by how sensitive these large glaciers are to climate warming. First it was the glaciers in south Greenland and now as we move further north in Greenland we find retreat at major glaciers. It's like removing a cork from a bottle."'
'The discovery of an underwater ridge in West Antarctica could help explain why there has been an acceleration in the ice flowing from a glacier in the area.
Researchers suggest that the base of Pine Island Glacier once sat on the ridge, but recently became detached from the feature.
The team made the discovery during surveys that used a unmanned submarine to examine waters under the glacier.
The findings have been published in the journal Nature Geoscience.'
The new article is much more measured and calm than its predecessor and I presume will get less attention as a result.
