SAN DIEGO (KGTV/Newsy) - San Diego geology expert Dr. Pat Abbott is explaining the impact of the ice shelf the size of Delaware that broke away from Antarctica is floating north of the continent.
U.K.-based Project Midas confirmed early Wednesday the colossal iceberg finally calved away from the Larsen C ice shelf. Some scientists believe the one-trillion-ton piece of ice could be pushed north by currents and wind.
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Researchers had been monitoring a big crack in the ice shelf for more than a decade.
Dr. Abbott told 10News, "This ice mass that broke off was more than half the size of San Diego County. The thickness would be if you visualize our biggest skyscraper downtown; double the height of it."
This new iceberg won't make sea levels rise because it was already floating. The Larsen C ice shelf is attached to Antarctica, but the section that broke away wasn't.
However, the Larsen C shelf prevents other glaciers from getting to the ocean. And if the whole thing breaks up, those glaciers could contribute to rising sea levels.
Scientists say the newly split iceberg is one of the biggest ever recorded. Its volume is double that of Lake Erie.
