Sea Ice Cracks Up

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Credit: NASA (Image credit: NASA)

In less than a day, a chunk of ice bigger than Rhode Island broke away from Antarctica and shattered into many pieces this week.

NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites captured the event, at the Ronne-Filchner Ice Shelf, in a series of photo-like images on Jan. 12-13.

The difference in thickness is visible in the images. The taller, thicker Ronne-Filchner Ice Shelf casts a visible shadow on the ice bridge made of sea ice. This particular ice bridge breaks up and reforms regularly. Even though the images show a routine event, they provide a spectacular view of the sometimes dramatic arrival of summer in the Polar South.

Live Science Staff
Live Science Staff
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