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View Full Version : Massive ice island breaks off Greenland

Gerald
08-07-10, 12:03 PM
(CNN) -- A piece of ice four times the size of Manhattan island has broken away from an ice shelf in Greenland, according to scientists in the U.S.

The 260 square-kilometer (100 square miles) ice island separated from the Petermann Glacier in northern Greenland early on Thursday, researchers based at the University of Delaware said.

The ice island, which is about half the height of the Empire State Building, is the biggest piece of ice to break away from the Arctic icecap since 1962 and amounts to a quarter of the Petermann 70-kilometer floating ice shelf, according to research leader Andreas Muenchow.

"The freshwater stored in this ice island could keep the Delaware or Hudson rivers flowing for more than two years. It could also keep all U.S. public tap water flowing for 120 days," Muenchow said.

Muenchow's team is studying ice in the Nares Strait separating Greenland from Canada, about 1,000 kilometers south of the North Pole


http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/08/07/greenland.ice.island/index.html?iref=NS1




Note:August 7, 2010 Updated 1343 GM
SteamWake
08-07-10, 12:23 PM
Glaciers are awsome.

Its hard to believe that something so big massive and solid is actually fluid in nature.

No mention of where they expect it to drift off to? Bet one of the first things they do is put radar reflectors on it, not that its hard to spot something that large.
Gerald
08-07-10, 12:31 PM
Glaciers are awsome.

Its hard to believe that something so big massive and solid is actually fluid in nature.

No mention of where they expect it to drift off to? Bet one of the first things they do is put radar reflectors on it, not that its hard to spot something that large. thick,and they mentioned the there might be problems for shipping, now runs the South.Free Ice in the wiskey :DL
Sailor Steve
08-07-10, 01:03 PM
"Iceberg ahead, Captain!"

"Whereaway?"

"Um, everywhere, sir!"
UnderseaLcpl
08-07-10, 01:26 PM
Clearly, now is the time to put Leonardo Dicaprio on a ship.
STEED
08-07-10, 01:31 PM
Great!

All we need is for it to melt and to turn off the deep water flow and a new ice age here we come. :DL
Gerald
08-07-10, 02:35 PM
Glaciers are awsome.

Its hard to believe that something so big massive and solid is actually fluid in nature.

No mention of where they expect it to drift off to? Bet one of the first things they do is put radar reflectors on it, not that its hard to spot something that large. to set up a system on the ""block"" to warn other ships or the like, which certainly will be if it comes close enough to the ship routes,unless it is time to melt or change course.
Admiral8Q
08-07-10, 02:49 PM
No mention of where they expect it to drift off to?
Probably off Newfoundland. :woot:
mookiemookie
08-07-10, 02:54 PM
Clearly, now is the time to put Leonardo Dicaprio on a ship.

Hey wait, he's actually turned into a decent actor now.
Gerald
08-07-10, 02:57 PM
Probably off Newfoundland. :woot: Newfoundland and Canada's east coast,I hope my IXC have high ice class rating.. :roll:
Betonov
08-07-10, 05:39 PM
the damn thing should have broken off 3 weeks ago and drifted into the adriatic (somehow), the heat wave was a killer
frau kaleun
08-07-10, 09:03 PM
I just wish they would report the size of this thing in terms I can really wrap my head around.

For instance, exactly how many potential margaritas are we talking about?
krashkart
08-07-10, 09:13 PM
I just wish they would report the size of this thing in terms I can really wrap my head around.

For instance, exactly how many potential margaritas are we talking about?

Enough to last you several lifetimes... depending on how much you like margaritas. :DL
frau kaleun
08-07-10, 09:33 PM
Enough to last you several lifetimes... depending on how much you like margaritas. :DL

:hmmm:

The hard part is gonna be finding a long enough extension cord for the blender.
Sledgehammer427
08-07-10, 09:36 PM
simple, Frau, we get my uncle out there with his gas-powered beach blender. :D

And I will be grabbing a cup of coffee, as I said I would when the world is coming to an end.
SteamWake
08-07-10, 10:08 PM
I just wish they would report the size of this thing in terms I can really wrap my head around.

For instance, exactly how many potential margaritas are we talking about?

with or without salt?
frau kaleun
08-07-10, 10:11 PM
simple, Frau, we get my uncle out there with his gas-powered beach blender.

Awesome. I'll bring the limes.

http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/FinalImage_thumb.jpg
frau kaleun
08-07-10, 10:15 PM
with or without salt?

Salt, I guess, since I can't seem to find a giant strawberry.

Oh wait...

http://im.in.com/media/blish/r/photos/2009/Aug/strawberry_cake_630090827082150_515x343.jpg

Looks like we better bring the sugar as well.
Gerald
08-08-10, 03:13 PM
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/08/07/greenland.ice.island/index.html?hpt=C2
Gerald
08-12-10, 08:14 AM
Sometimes funny, sometimes serious, these images say it with pictures instead of words: A large chuck of ice has broken off a glacier in Greenland. Here's YOUR take on what will happen next. Click through the images and then show us your talent by creating a photo op-ed for the NEXT slideshow:

http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/opinion/2010/08/11/photo-op-iceberg-greenland-pelosi-gore-obama/?test=faces#slide=1