Giant Antarctic iceberg breaks loose

One of the biggest icebergs on record has broken away from Antarctica. The 1 trillion-tonne iceberg, measuring 5,800 square kilometres, calved away from the Larsen C ice shelf sometime between July 10-12

DISINTEGRATION OF LARSEN ICE SHELF

1995: Larsen A collapses

2002: Larsen B breaks apart

Remnant of Larsen B

ANTARCTIC PENINSULA

LARSEN C

Calving has left Larsen C ice shelf reduced in area by more than 12 percent

Loss of piece leaves whole Larsen C shelf vulnerable to future collapse, which would raise global sea levels by 10cm

Jan 2017
Jun 2016
Aug 2014
Nov 2010

Southern Ocean

ANTARCTICA

Antarctic Peninsula

Piece of ice that has broken off is around a quarter of size of Wales
BRITAIN
IRELAND
Wales

310 miles
500km

Source: Project Midas