Antarctic: Grand Canyon-sized rift 'speeding ice melt'

[IDemo]

A rift in the Antarctic rock as deep as the Grand Canyon is increasing ice melt from the continent, researchers say.

A UK team found the Ferrigno rift using ice-penetrating radar, and showed it to be about 1.5km (1 mile) deep.

Antarctica is home to a geological rift system where new crust is being formed, meaning the eastern and western halves of the continent are slowly separating.

The team writes in Nature journal that the canyon is bringing more warm sea water to the ice sheet, hastening melt.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18959399

[OKIsItJustMe]

1. Hidden rift valley discovered beneath West Antarctica reveals new insight into accelerating ice loss

http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/press/press_releases/press_release.php?id=1866

[font face=Serif][font size=5]Press Release - Hidden rift valley discovered beneath West Antarctica reveals new insight into accelerating ice loss[/font]

[font size=3]Issue date: 25 Jul 2012
Number: 07/2012

Scientists have discovered a one mile deep rift valley hidden beneath the ice in West Antarctica, which they believe is contributing to ice loss from this part of the continent.

Experts from the University of Aberdeen and British Antarctic Survey (BAS) made the discovery below Ferrigno Ice Stream, a region visited only once previously, over fifty years ago, in 1961, and one that is remote even by Antarctic standards.

Their findings, reported in Nature this week reveal that the ice-filled ancient rift basin is connected to the warming ocean which impacts upon contemporary ice flow and loss.

The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is of great scientific interest and societal importance as it is losing ice faster than any other part of Antarctica with some glaciers shrinking by more than one metre per year.

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http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v487/n7408/full/nature11292.html