Large iceberg breaks free from Antarctica
September 29, 2000
WASHINGTON (CNN) - An iceberg 10 times the size of Manhattan
Island has broken free from Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf, The
National Ice Center reported Friday.
Iceberg B-20, as it is identified by the ice center, was
discovered Wednesday by satellite monitoring. The exact date
the 345-square-mile berg broke off the ice shelf could not be
determined because of cloudiness in the area but it is thought to
have been between Sept. 20 and 26.
The 30-mile-long, 11.5-mile-wide iceberg is in the Ross Sea,
south of the Pacific Ocean.
The Ross Ice Shelf, on the part of Antarctica closest to
Australia and New Zealand, is one of two massive ice fields on
the continent that have been the site of increased "calving" of
huge icebergs. While Iceberg B-20 is large, it is dwarfed by
others that have separated from the Ross and Ronne Ice Shelves in
recent years.
Many scientists have speculated that the increase in the
separation of ice from the Antarctic continent is caused by
human-induced global warming, but few claim firm scientific
evidence to support that.
Whatever the cause, the introduction of land-based ice from
Antarctica into ocean waters could have some impact on sea
levels.
Marine safety experts warn that an increase in icebergs off
Antarctica, in the North Atlantic and along cold-water shorelines
like Alaska's Prince William Sound could raise the risk of ships
colliding with icebergs.
None of the Antarctic icebergs are currently in the path of
heavily used shipping lanes.
Article by the Associated Press
SOURCE: CNN
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