European Space Agency - Update! Petermann Glacier, Calved 08/04/2010 - Greenland

(link) Giant Iceberg Enters Nares Strait - Satellite Views

September 5, 2010


"ESA Observing the Earth - Image of the Week!" Updates us on the position of the Petermann Calf. 


On August 4, 2010, the ESA Announced that the ice tongue had detached in one day from the Petermann Glacier in North Greenland. I blogged about it here: (link)_Earthenwarehaven Points out Calving off of Petermann - N Greenland 8/4/10 .


Having record heat in the South of Northern America and the inability of the "cool air/water conditioner" to work, surface heat has increased in various places. On August 3, 2010, the tongue on the Petermann Glacier into the Nares Strait appeared to be solid with some cracking which had transpired in July. 


On August 4th, it broke free; it calved from the Petermann Glacier in Northern Greenland.


Metric measurements are 30sq.km.15sq.km.sq.km7sq.km. English measurement is about 8 sq miles big,( if I did my calculations correctly...feel free to correct me please). .
Calving does occur, it is just that a rapid break and so large is  not routine.


On September first, nearly a month later, it has moved another 6 km from the Glacier, and turned by about 39 degrees. Satellite imagery shows the Calf hit a small island, and is edging into the Nares strait.  In Earth Science, we learned that when one geologic formation has interaction with another, they both leave and take something. The iceberg will leave 'trace' evidence. The island will send soil, and fauna along with the Iceberg,  as well. Geography is fully at the controls it seems.


It is probable this Iceberg will fully enter Nares Strait. The actual course of the Iceberg will depend on wind speed and direction. (link)_ESA Observing The Earth - Protecting our Environment . Wonder what is going to happen? Will this change the way people travel? Is this a further sign of warmer and more salinity in our Oceans?


Will the sea ice stop the Calved iceberg? Can we give it a name?


                          

ESA - Observing the Earth - Greenland glacier gives birth to giant iceberg

(link) ESA - Observing the Earth - Greenland glacier gives birth to giant iceberg

Send out the announcements! One of the largest glaciers on our planet just recently gave birth to a Giant Iceberg!  In the Glacial Household, this is referred to as Calving. Yes similar to a buffalo giving birth to a calf. For all those who are considered "deniers" of Climate Change and/or Global Warning, this is just a cute story manufactured by Hippies and Tree Huggers, go back to Watching Fox, you may lose the momentum of brainwashing. It would be a shame if you started looking at facts, and were to think for yourself. Hurry, I think Glenn is about to rant and rave that the First Lady was in Spain for a worldwide PETA meeting...

Now, for those of you who are free to evaluate information, please use the Link at the top of the page to see a historic event in Environmental change. To be clear, the Greenland glacier, calving an iceberg, is not an increase in the polar cap. I promise.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has a satellite called Envisat. Envisat is one of many of ESA's satellites orbiting our solar system, and keeping watch over our Universe. The type of system that is used in Envisat is called Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR). ASAR image captures of July 31, 2010, August 4, 2010 and Saturday, the 7th, 2010 showed movement, and the breaking of what is called the glacial tongue.

(The photo on the Right shows cracks and breaking of the glacial tongue on August 4th, 2010.)

Until August of this year, the glacier was moving at about 1km per year. On August 3rd the ice tongue was intact...the next day it separated from the glacier. That was calving, or the Glacier giving birth to the iceberg.

(The photo on the left is a 1991 image of the Petermann Glacier of NW Greenland.)

At this time, ESA in partnership with other agencies are monitoring the Strait of Nares. It's size at 245 square km is enormous...in the U.S. measure it is about 8 square miles big. Perhaps Sara Palin can see it from her backyard.

The Nares Strait connects the Lincoln Sea and Arctic Ocean with the Baffin Bay. The strait is usually navigable by icebreakers during August/September, when sea ice extent is at its minimum after the summer melt period. Envisat ASAR images will be used in the coming days to monitor the movement of the giant iceberg in support of icebreaker navigation.

In conclusion, I would like to thank the ESA for the beautiful imagry, and for monitoring our globe. Perhaps with this warning, and quick dispersal of the Petermann Glacier human beings will wake up and quit taking our plant for granted. This rapid loss of Glacial Ice this quickly is something Earth has not seen in recorded history. What will happen? I don't know.