Abstract
It happened during the long dark, polar night just over a year ago. It wasn't noticed until months later. Its climatic significance isn't clear yet, but it provides new insight into the process by which the Antarctic ice sheet periodically launches massive icebergs from around its perimeter and heightens concern that this area of Earth's largest frozen continent is changing.“It” is the sudden formation of a large rift nearly three‐fourths of the distance across the Pine Island Glacier (75°S, 102°W), a major outlet glacier of the West Antarctic ice sheet. The long rift was observed independently by researchers reviewing images collected in two separate mappings of Antarctica with two different sensors. The initial analysis of this dramatic event, including a prognosis of the rift's future growth and impending iceberg formation, incorporates recently collected data from no less than six sensors on five satellites operated by three space agencies.This study illustrates beautifully the new power of multisensor monitoring of the Earth from space.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
