Iceberg from Antarctica broke off an area of ​​more than two of Moscow

• From Antarctica broke iceberg area of ​​more than two Moscow

Scientists have been waiting for this for a long time - and this happened: one of the largest iceberg in history finally broke away from the ice shelf Larsen C in West Antarctica. Its weight - a trillion tons, height - 190 meters, and the area - 5800 square meters. km. That's more than two of Moscow! What will happen with the breakaway iceberg next?

Larsen Ice Area C is now reduced by about 10 percent.

The new iceberg that scientists called the A68, is one of the ten largest icebergs ever recorded in history.

spalling occurred in the period from 10 to 12 July, when a thin "thread" a width of 5 km, linking the A68 Larsen C and finally broke.

In the formation process of the 200-kilometer crack scientists using satellites have observed for a long time, and have long modeled how iceberg calving will occur.

Now, their task - to watch him and the rest of the unstable glacier S. Larsen

This restrains the ice sheet thawed runoff waters of the continental glaciers into the ocean. If it is not completely gone, the water level in the oceans could rise by about 10 cm.

thawing and cracking of the ice shelves of Antarctica, of course, linked to climate change, said Professor David Vaughan, a glaciologist scientist. According to him, currently there are clear signals that global warming will destroy the entire Antarctica.

But the destruction of the Antarctic ice shelf since the second half of the 20th century noticeably intensified and accelerated. So, to completely destroy the glaciers Larsen A and Larsen B.

The polar regions are run by the Earth's oceans and atmosphere. Plus, warming in Antarctica will be detrimental to the animals traditionally living there. All this can not but worry.

With regard to the new iceberg, scientists say the following: it is difficult to accurately predict future developments. He may remain a monolith, but is likely to split into fragments, which may be partially carried out in warm water. And he lost his piece of the ice shelf is disintegrating as a further, and "regenerated" by building up new ice to replace the old. Opinions on this subject were divided.

Video drone, shows how "crack" Antarctica