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Vast Iceberg Could Cause Another Titanic

Gigantic glacier may be headed for shipping lanes

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 12, 2010 11:20 AM CDT

(Newser) – Researchers are frantically calculating the trajectory of the 100-square-mile island of ice that broke off a Greenland glacier recently, afraid that it could easily drift down into the heavily-trafficked waters where another Greenland iceberg sank the Titanic. The chunk of ice is four times the size of Manhattan, and “so big that you can’t prevent it from drifting. You can’t stop it,” one glaciologist tells the AP.

The ice seems to be headed for the Nares Strait, and if it makes it there before next month’s winter freeze, the current will carry it south, along Canada’s east coast. There, it’ll probably break up, forming huge fragments that could sink the many ships and offshore oil platforms in the area. Normally, oil rigs redirect icebergs, towing them or spraying them with water, but those tactics almost certainly wouldn’t work on icebergs this big.

This satellite image provided by NASA taken on Aug. 5, 2010, shows the Petermann Glacier in Northern Greenland.
This satellite image provided by NASA taken on Aug. 5, 2010, shows the Petermann Glacier in Northern Greenland.   (AP Photo/NASA)
In this July 6, 2009 photo made available by Greenpeace, cameraman Jason Box stands high on the cliffs on the south east side of Petermann Glacier.
In this July 6, 2009 photo made available by Greenpeace, cameraman Jason Box stands high on the cliffs on the south east side of Petermann Glacier.   (AP Photo/Greenpeace, Nick Cobbing)
This satellite image provided by NASA and taken on July 5, 2003 shows the Petermann Glacier in Northern Greenland.
This satellite image provided by NASA and taken on July 5, 2003 shows the Petermann Glacier in Northern Greenland.   (AP Photo/NASA)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 24 comments
Brass
Aug 12, 2010 8:29 PM CDT
Big iceberg could cause another Titanic? An asteroid could hit New York city. A huge earthquake may level San Fransisco. Katrina II may hit New Orleans again. Mt. Saint Helens is smoking again! Thousands of bomb crazy Arabs are sneaking across the Mexican border... Oh Shit! The sky is falling. Somebody do something.
myflap.blow
Aug 12, 2010 5:28 PM CDT
i swear if you hold this photo upsidedown on your iphone, it'll help you go in the morning!
JoeQ
Aug 12, 2010 1:31 PM CDT
The great majority of ice in the north Atlantic has been sea-ice from the arctic ocean. This particular ice is land-ice from a glacier on Greenland. When sea ice melts it doesn't raise the sea level. When land ice melts it raises the sea level. It also changes the deep ocean currents by adding extra cold fresh water on top. This ice will pose a threat to navigation but not much more than any other ice. Companies that are affected by icebergs actively track them, and now with satellite imagery it is very easy to avoid them especially the big ones. They used to drop data buoys on the big ones but now they just watch from space. Shipping hazard - no. Sea level continues to slowly rise - yes.
World • Green

 
global warming • Canada • Greenland • glacier • Titanic • Petermann glacier • Iceberg

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