Antarctic ice is melting faster than scientific forecast

A large area of ​​ice, about 300 km ^2, is cracked and threatens to separate from the base of the Pine Island in Antarctica. According to the satellite images obtained, the crack in this area has grown to 30km long.

Glacier Collins, Antarctica.(Photo: AFP / VNA).

Studies by Stef Lhermitte, an observer at Delf Technical University (Netherlands), said that since 2001, there have been 6 times of cracked and detached ice with similar large area since 2001 . Until now, there is only about 10km of cracked ice that will completely separate from the old island layer.

It is not a strange phenomenon in Antarctica that large ice sheets separate from the old island. However, the concern that experts worry about is that, often, the cracks discovered before are in areas near the edge of the island; meanwhile, the fracture this time is detected in the central area of ​​the island.

According to experts, this is a sign of the possibility of hot water flows below the island. Furthermore, the frequency of cracks and fragments is also increasing, suggesting that the ice in the West Antarctic is melting faster than expected.

In 2017, also here, an ice sheet with an area of ​​about 260 km ² has also completely separated from the island.