Iceberg to trouble India |
One of the biggest icebergs on record broke away from Antarctica on July 12, 2017. The one-trillion tonne iceberg, measuring 5,800 square km, which is equal to four Delhis, calved away from the Larsen C Ice Shelf in Antarctica between July 10 and 12. The iceberg, which is likely to be named A68, was already floating before it broke away so there is not immediate impact on sea levels, but the calving has left the Larsen C ice shelf reduced in area by more than 12%. The Larsen A and B ice shelves, which were situated further north on the Antarctic Peninsula, collapsed in 1995 and 2002 respectively. This resulted in the dramatic acceleration of the glaciers behind them, with larger volumes of ice entering the ocean and contributing to sea-level rise, David Vaughan, glaciologist and director of science at British Antarctic Survey said. If Larsen C now starts to retreat significantly and eventually collapses, then there will be another contribution to sea level rise. Falkland islands and coastal areas of Argentina including the coast of Buenos Aires Province, and northeastern Brazil are already vulnerable to sea level rise may be in danger with melting of this iceberg.
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