"Record-Breaking Glacier Fracture: Unprecedented Speed in Antarctica"
Originally Published 1 year ago — by SciTechDaily
Researchers have observed the fastest large-scale ice shelf breakage event on the Pine Island Glacier in Antarctica, with a 6.5-mile crack forming in about 5 and a half minutes, opening at about 80 miles per hour. This study sheds light on the physics of glacier fracture and the role of seawater in controlling the speed of ice shelf breakage, providing crucial insights for understanding future sea-level rise due to melting glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica.