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Witness History: The Collapse of the Larsen B Ice Shelf

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The Collapse of the Larsen B Ice Shelf

31/03/2017 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, The Collapse of the Larsen B Ice Shelf

Glaciologist Pedro Svarka recalls the massive ice shelf tumbling into the Antarctic seas.

Glaciologist Pedro Svarka recalls watching the massive ice shelf tumbling into the Antarctic seas in a record 35 days in early 2002.

In March 2002 a massive ice shelf with a surface area of more than 3,200 square kilometres collapsed into the ocean around western Antarctica. The Larsen B ice shelf had existed for more than 10,000 years, but it split apart in a period of just 35 days. Mike Lanchin hears from the leading glaciologist Pedro Svarka who saw it happen.

Photo: Satellite images showing the collapse of the Larsen B ice shelf in early 2002 (Science Photo Library)

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