NASA Reports End is Near for Larson B Ice Shelf in Antarctica

Larsen_B_collapseNASApublicdomainphoto

NASA is reporting that the end is near for the Larson B Ice Shelf in Antarctica.  A huge portion of it fell off in 2002 and its glacial retreat has continued to accelerate since then. Below is a most recent satellite image of the shelf. As you can see compared to the image above this is a very dynamic situation.

The adjacent Larson A Shelf broke up and drifted away in 1995. Currently the Larson C Shelf, which is the closest to the South Pole, is stable but is expected to disintegrate in the next decade due to global temperature rise.

 

More on the topic from the NASA website.