Antarctic Glacier Melting Four Times Faster Than a Decade Ago

Glaciers in Antarctica are melting alarmingly fast, as revealed by 15 years of continuous satellite imaging.  New research has discovered the Pine Island glacier is thinning at a rate that is four times faster than just ten years ago. According to the Environment News Service:

The glacier, which is twice the size of Scotland, is releasing more ice into the sea than any other glacier in Antarctica. The research also reveals that ice thinning is now occurring much further inland. At this rate scientists estimate that the main section of the glacier will have disappeared in just 100 years, six times sooner than was previously thought.

The scientists say it is too early to link the melting glacier to global warming, but they believe the retreating ice is due to warming oceans surrounding Antarctica.

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Posted by Jennifer Lance at August 18, 2009 1:40 AM