In a routine survey of Antarctica’s Pine Island Glacier, NASA scientists discovered a large crack in the ice which will soon lead to the birth of a new giant iceberg.
The Pine Island Glacier has been the focus of scientific attention for many years. Large numbers of deep crevasses are a sign that parts of the glacier are moving rapidly.
Three polynyas—circular areas free of sea ice—provide tantalizing clues as to why Antarctica’s Pine Island Glacier is melting at an astonishing 100 meters per year.