Wilkins breaks away from the pack

i-d5ef89d7189b7e6401edf82a75398dec-080325-ice-lost-02-1.jpgOkay, so it's the Wilkins Ice Shelf, but it's even more important than news about me. The 6000 square mile (15,540 km2) ice shelf named for Sir Hubert Wilkins, the famous Australian Antarctic explorer (and very possibly some kind of relation), is breaking off due to global warming. This is the single largest such break up observed so far.

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But no reason to worry about global warming, right? It's just God doing a little redecorating?
Posted by: dorid

Can't recollect any scripture (Christian, Muslim, Hindu or other) claiming that God would prevent people being stupid/foolish/short sighted and so damaging themselves, others or the environment; they all seem to say that we have free will for good or ill.

On a more serious note, the bigger worry is that losing the ice shelf will allow the landbased ice to flow more rapidly to the ocean. As well as removing a large area of high albedo so less sunlight will be reflected back.

Losing an ice shelf shouldn't raise sea level but the cooling effect on the parts of the ocean it floats in and the introduction of fresh water could cause local problems for marine life, if only for a short while.

By Chris' Wills (not verified) on 26 Mar 2008 #permalink

I am feeling a bit shattered.

By John S. Wilkins (not verified) on 26 Mar 2008 #permalink

But no reason to worry about global warming, right? It's just God doing a little redecorating?

Posted by: dorid | March 25, 2008 11:38 PM

LOL! What concerns me is that this may be the biggest so far, but I don't know how long it will get to hold onto the title!
Dave Briggs :~)