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Author Topic: Giant ice slabs set for collision  (Read 3021 times)

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Offline CU_AMiGATopic starter

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Giant ice slabs set for collision
« on: January 12, 2005, 11:47:47 AM »
Quoted from BBC Site:

Quote
Two giant slabs of ice are about to hit each other in Antarctica, possibly with spectacular results, say Nasa experts.
A 160km-long iceberg is heading on a collision course with a huge floating glacier in the sea near the US McMurdo Research Station.

The B-15A iceberg should collide with the Drygalski Ice Tongue no later than 15 January 2005, though it is slowing.

US space agency scientists are studying the iceberg's progress by monitoring satellite images of the region.


Giant ice slabs set for collision
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Offline PMC

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Re: Giant ice slabs set for collision
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2005, 12:09:49 PM »
It's happening near an American research station and worringly one scientist (from the Goddard Flight centre) was quoted as saying
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It's a clash of the titans; a radical and uncommon event

as if they were describing a bout between Ali and Foreman.

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When the two ice giants hit each other, the impact will probably "dent their bumpers", according to Dr Binshadler.


Actually, it's more like he's commentating on a NASCAR event.

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The B-15A iceberg is a 3,000 sq km behemoth that has a history of causing trouble. It is the largest fragment of a much larger iceberg that broke off from the Ross Ice Shelf in 2000.

This year, it trapped sea ice in McMurdo Sound. The currents that normally break the ice into pieces and sweep it out into the Ross Sea have not been able to clean out the Sound.

So winter's thick ice remains intact - causing problems for Antarctic residents.

That means penguins have to swim greater distances to reach open waters and food.

As a result, there is a danger many chicks could starve, according to Antarctica New Zealand, the government organisation that oversees the country's research.


A barrell of laughs for all fans of monster trucks everywhere, but not exactly a giggle for the many penguins and other creatures living near the Ross Ice Shelf.
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Offline Wilse

Re: Giant ice slabs set for collision
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2005, 07:59:19 PM »
Apparently it could stop supply ships getting to the research stations there. (US and NZ, I think)

Offline blobrana

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Re: Giant ice slabs set for collision
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2005, 10:28:10 PM »
Hum,
i think of the poor krill.

The plankton blooms won’t happen this year due to the cold water currents being diverted