Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
slabs break off, dramatically initiating icebergs to drift outwards towards the Southern
Ocean. In 2002, the Larsen B Ice Shelf splintered and was widely judged to be indicat-
ive of a warming planet. In 2008, a huge chunk of the Wilkins Ice Shelf became detached,
and 570 square kilometres of ice floated out to sea. Unsurprisingly, there is much interest
amongst the scientific community as to how the mass of this ice sheet has altered, and the
overall ratio between accumulation and loss of ice. The changing state of the ice sheet and
specific ice shelves such as the Larsen B is providing invaluable evidence of past climates,
and a sobering warning of what further warming might do to other ice shelves.
West Antarctica is composed of the Antarctica Peninsula, Ellsworth Land, Marie Byrd
Land, and the islands located within the Scotia Sea. Geologically, West Antarctica, espe-
cially the Antarctic Peninsula, is connected with a circum-Pacific chain of mountains. The
Andes and the Antarctic Peninsula are, quite literally, connected to one another. The aver-
age elevation is 2,000 metres, and the chain is home to the continent's highest mountain,
Mount Vinson, at 4,897 metres.
N a great deal en Peninsulaotwithstanding these heights, a large part of West Antarctica is
covered by the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS). This is a marine-based ice sheet because
