Chasing cracks on an Antarctic ice shelf
UK scientists are seeking to understand the triggers that result in the production of giant Antarctic icebergs. Nearly half of the ice lost from the white continent comes from the shedding of these city-sized frozen blocks.
This makes them a major consideration in forecasts of future sea-level rise. British researchers hope to glean new insights into the physics of ice fracturing by studying a sector of the Antarctic that recently saw the breakaway of two mega-bergs.
In this drone video, the scientists are looking for the end of a giant crack that could one day spawn a mega-berg.
Video courtesy of the British Antarctic Survey
