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Posted By: samwik fyi. Antarctic update, - 05/16/07 09:01 AM
Nothing unexpected here, but it's current (I think); proof of nothing, just an fyi. smile

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.rss.html?pid=22648

"A team of NASA and university scientists has found clear evidence that extensive areas of snow melted in west Antarctica in January 2005 in response to warm temperatures. This was the first widespread Antarctic melting ever detected with NASA's QuikScat satellite and the most significant melt observed using satellites during the past three decades. Combined, the affected regions encompassed an area as big as California.

The observed melting occurred in multiple distinct regions, including far inland, at high latitudes and at high elevations, where melt had been considered unlikely. Evidence of melting was found up to 900 kilometers (560 miles) inland from the open ocean...."

QuikScat can differentiate this icy fingerprint in the snow cover and can map on a continental scale the extent of strong snowmelt and the subsequently formed ice layer. Available ground station measurements validate the satellite results.

Large amounts of Antarctic freshwater flowing into the ocean also could affect ocean salinity, currents and global climate.

The study, "Snow Accumulation and Snowmelt Monitoring in Greenland and Antarctica," appears in the recently published book "Dynamic Planet."

For more information on QuikScat, visit: http://winds.jpl.nasa.gov .
Posted By: Wolfman Re: fyi. Antarctic update, - 05/16/07 08:12 PM
Impressive, but nothing like this:


http://nsidc.org/iceshelves/larsenb2002/animation.html

I remember when the Larsen B broke up, some of us living here were hoping to see an ice berg. Some scientists believe that the Larsen Shelf had existed for 12,000 years.
Posted By: samwik Re: fyi. Antarctic update, - 05/19/07 05:14 AM
I saw on the news tonight that a section the size of Long Island (I think they said) broke off of Ellsmere Island (or one of the Canadian Islands). This was back in 2005, but just made the news for some reason. I'll see if I can find a link.

Later
~samwik
Posted By: samwik Re: fyi. Antarctic update, - 05/19/07 05:36 AM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6218333.stm

"It occurred in August 2005 but was only recently detected on satellite images.
The chunk of ice bigger than Manhattan" (not Long Island); oh well....

I think I recall seeing something about this on SAGG anyway.

I think it was on the news tonight because a BBC reporter is flying out with some scientists to try landing on the 'floater,' and they'll get a report filed.

More to follow, I guess.

~SA
Posted By: samwik Re: fyi. Antarctic update, - 05/23/07 01:35 AM
Arctic Ice Island:

Here's the update. Sounds as if the weather broke and they could fly out there finally.

(works on realplayer & ?)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6680000/newsid_6681900/6681935.stm?bw=nb&mp=rm

...& the original video from May 18th.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6670000/newsid_6671800/6671849.stm?bw=nb&mp=rm

Not too much new info.
I did hear it mentioned that there were 5 more ice shelves like this one which could potentially break off, up in that region.

Betting pool? Dibs on 2012 for all six to be floaters, for 20 bucks. smile

~samwik
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