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| Situation Update No. 3 Ref.no.: CC-20100227-25094-ATA
Situation Update No. 3
On 2010-03-01 at 04:28:47 [UTC]
Event: Climate Change
Location: Antarctica Mertz Glacier Situation: A gigantic iceberg, roughly the size of Connecticut, has broken off the Mertz Glacier in Antarctica, leaving scientists worried about global oceanic circulation. Scientist have concluded that the ice break was not due to global warming, but in fact the 965 square mile chick of ice broke free from the continent due to yet another iceberg slamming into Antarctica in earlier February. Australian Antarctic Research Center scientist, Neal Young, stated that it has been at least 50 to 100 years since an ice berg was carved off the Merts Glacier. This latest ice berg break is one of the largest in recorded history. Many scientists are concerned that the large amount of melting water from the ice could cause trouble by diluting ocean salinity, and slowing down global ocean currents. Rob Massom, or the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, stated the creation of dense salt water in this area of the ocean is vital to ocean circulation, and with this ice berg also lessening the are of open water, it could greatly inhibit the input of salinity into the ocean waters. The results of this would be less temperate winters in the North Atlantic in the coming decade. |  | | | |
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