"The beginning of the end": the threat that threatens Antarctica

February 20, 2019

The cracks recorded on the Larsen C platform could lead to a thaw that would release more than 50,000 liters of currently frozen water. The rise in sea level appears as the main concern.

The Earth It is constantly evolving since its creation. The metamorphosis of our planet unfortunately goes through a time of involution due to the interference of the man who, to live with more comfort, has radically changed his immaculate state. In this sense, Antarctica appears as one of the main places in danger.

According to the latest observations, several ice pack blocks have begun to separate and the damage this failure would cause would be irreversible.

The last to go out was the Larsen Cwhich is home to molten lagoons of up to 400 square meters its crack already has an extension of more than 200 kilometers. Even in some of its parts, the width between edges already reaches 2,000 meters.

For this problem, a team of scientists from Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences He began working on the subject and confirmed that these melt lakes have grown exponentially and they have ensured that this situation was what could have caused the collapse of the platform. Larsen B in 2002.

In summary, if these cracks continue to be generated, the ice discharge on the ocean would accelerate, which would logically contribute directly to the rise in sea level, a problem known under the name fromthe begining of the end"

The group of experts warned that the situation of the platform could have an impact on other vulnerable ice shelves, which would break them, accelerate the release of ice into the ocean and, finally, would contribute to the overall rise in sea level. For some, it is the "beginning of the end".

According to the studies of Alison Banwell, CIRES postdoctoral researcher, the causes that led to the rupture of the Larsen C platform in 2002 are similar to those of today and the melting of its lakes would release between 50,000 tons of frozen water.

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