Scientists have known it for some time, but over the last few days satellites have shown that the Pine Island Glacier in Antarctica has calved one of the largest icebergs ever seen. The Pine Island Glacier is one of the fastest and longest glaciers in Antarctica and the size of the Iceberg calved is said to be 8 times the size of Manhattan New York and at around 720km sq in area. The Pine Island Glacier travels several kilometres from the land and floats out on the ocean water. Scientists believe warmer waters and melting of the base of the ice shelf has caused this iceberg to crack off the glacier.
The glacier is one of the most rapidly shrinking glaciers on the planet losing more ice than any other. It is one of the main flows off Antarctica also and contributes most to sea level rise. Another thing that is worrying scientist is the fact this occurred in deep winter and not in the winter months when there is colder conditions. It is also a concern on how much freshwater will be melted from the glacier into the salty sea water and whether that will affect temperatures and currents.
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