A massive ice shelf the size of Jamaica has almost broken free from the Antarctic. The Wilkins ice Shelf has been monitored by scientists for a number of months now, with the expectation that it would break away.
The shelf has been stable for the last century but has been rapidly reducing in size recently. In the last 50 years the Antartic peninsular has experienced much higher temperatures than the rest of the planet.
Although the eventual melting of the ice shelf will not add to sea levels, it is an indicator that ice Antarctic ice sheets will melt because of increasing temperatures. These will add to sea levels.

AFP
Science Daily

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