Polar ice shelf collapses. (Geography Smart).What caused a block of ice the size of Rhode Is-land to break up in Antarctica last month? Could it be global warming global warming, the gradual increase of the temperature of the earth's lower atmosphere as a result of the increase in greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution. ? Scientists are not sure. But temperatures in the area have increased 4.45 degrees Fahrenheit in the past 50 years. The ice broke off the Larsen Ice Shelf Larsen Ice Shelf Ice shelf in the northwestern Weddell Sea, adjoining the eastern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. It is named for Capt. Carl A. Larsen, who explored the ice front by boat in 1893. , a huge floating ice mass on the eastern part of the Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic Peninsula, glaciated mountain region of W Antarctica, extending c.1,200 mi (1,930 km) N toward South America; in the south, volcanic peaks rise to c.11,000 ft (3,350 m). Most of its NE coast is fringed by the Larsen ice shelf. . The Larsen Ice Shelf has probably existed since the last ice age, 12,000 years ago. But it took only five weeks for two thirds of Larsen B to break into thousands of icebergs. (Another section, known as Larsen A, broke up in 1995.) "We knew what was left would collapse eventually, but the speed of it is staggering," said scientist David Vaughan. The loss of more ice shelves could affect the sea level. Ice shelves serve as brakes on the flow of ice from land glaciers. If more ice flows into the sea, then sea levels could rise. RELATED ARTICLE: Questions 1. The Larsen B Ice Shelf was about the size of what U.S. state? _____ 2. Two thirds of Larsen B broke up by what date? _____ 3. What named line of latitude Noun 1. line of latitude - an imaginary line around the Earth parallel to the equator parallel of latitude, parallel, latitude polar circle - a line of latitude at the north or south poles passes through the Larsen Ice Shelf? _____ 4. What geographical feature is located at 80[degrees]S, 60[degrees]W? _____ 5. The Ross Ice Shelf Ross Ice Shelf World's largest body of floating ice. It lies at the head of the Ross Sea, which forms an enormous indentation in Antarctica. Its area is estimated to be about the size of France. is located at what line of latitude on the map? _____ 6. Both the Larsen and Ronne ice shelves border what sea? _____ 7. Which continent is closest to Antarctica? _____ 8. Which is larger, the entire United States or Antarctica? _____ 9 What is located closest to 80[degrees]S, 80[degrees]W? _____ 10. The Larsen ice breakup area is about how many miles from Chile? _____ ANSWERS Geography Smart 1. Rhode Island Rhode Island, island, United States Rhode Island, island, 15 mi (24 km) long and 5 mi (8 km) wide, S R.I., at the entrance to Narragansett Bay. It is the largest island in the state, with steep cliffs and excellent beaches. 2. March 5, 2002 3. the Antarctic Circle 4. the Ronne Ice Shelf Ron·ne Ice Shelf An area of shelf ice in western Antarctica south of the Weddell Sea. 5. 80[degrees]S 6. the Weddell Sea 7. South America 8. Antarctica 9. Vinson Massif mountain 10. about 1,000 miles |
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