Scientists try to raise awareness by informing people that the rise of sea levels will start threatening the whole world. The risk of increasing sea levels could materialize because of the gradually melting process which currently takes place in the Antarctic. The massive broad crack in the ice layer which now measures about 300 feet will break off in the next ten years causing massive destruction.
- The decay of another ice shelf could cause major damage to our planet.
- A complete break off of Larsen C will cause a massive rise of the sea levels.
This decay of the ice shelf will encourage the rise of sea levels which will register at least ten extra feet. If this terrible increase of sea levels will eventually occur, then entire cities like Miami and New York will be under water. Some scientists responsible with NASA’s Operation IceBridge Mission have demonstrated that the massive crack revealed in the Antarctic ice layer was named Larsen C.
This crack has worried hundreds of scientists since its discovery because the 70-mile long fissure is continuously enlarging due to the effects of climate change. Researchers have estimated that the total break off of Larsen C will influence the rise of sea levels with 82 centimeters. However, if this ice shelf will collapse, then it will cause more water to add to the oceans and seas.
The complete downfall of the ice layer is expected to take place somewhere during the next decade. Unfortunately, the effects of global warming might speed up the process, and an imminent danger will hit the globe. Larsen C, the Antarctic ice shelf was composed of three ice shelves namely Larsen C, Larsen B and Larsen A. The total collapse of Larsen A was considered by experts to represent part of the usual glacial cycle. During the glacial period, the most common event is the downfall of ice shelves.
Nevertheless, when Larsen B began to decay, a lot of researchers became alarmed because the total damage of the ice shelves happened at almost three months after the rift was discovered. The increased temperatures of the air and sea which were fueled by global warming have also urged to speed up the process of decay for Larsen B. After all these unfortunate events; specialists expect any moment now that Larsen C will also completely disintegrate just like Larsen B, causing even greater damages.
The crack is currently developing into a wider and deeper one without being stopped by anything. Previous estimations uttered that the size of the final break off of Larsen C will probably have the same size as Delaware.
Image courtesy of: wikipedia
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