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Beautiful, Depresssing Photo Of 19-Mile Crack In Antarctic Glacier
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 2, 2012
Modified Feb 2, 2012
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By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 2, 2012
Modified Feb 2, 2012
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NASA's Image of the Day is this picture of a "massive crack across the Pine Island Glacier, a major ice stream that drains the West Antarctic Ice Sheet."
In mid-October 2011, NASA scientists working in Antarctica discovered a massive crack across the Pine Island Glacier, a major ice stream that drains the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Extending for 19 miles (30 kilometers), the crack was 260 feet (80 meters) wide and 195 feet (60 meters) deep. Eventually, the crack will extend all the way across the glacier, and calve a giant iceberg that will cover about 350 square miles (900 square kilometers). This image from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument on NAS's Terra spacecraft was acquired Nov. 13, 2011, and covers an area of 27 by 32 miles (44 by 52 kilometers), and is located near 74.9 degrees south latitude, 101.1 degrees west longitude.
Apparently scientists are "expect[ing] an iceberg a bit larger than New York City will eventually separate off from the glacier." And while climate change is real, this crack is supposedly, according to NASA, "part of a natural cycle."
Tagged
antarctica
climate change
glacier
global warming
iceberg
nasa
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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