SCIENCE REPORT - Pine Island Glacier

SCIENCE REPORT
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February 20, 2002: Pine Island Glacier¹

By Jerilyn Watson

This is the VOA Special English Science Report.

Scientists have expressed much interest in the development of a huge new iceberg² in Antarctica. This huge ice
island formed when a piece broke off a moving mass of ice called the Pine Island Glacier. The new iceberg was
formed last November. Creation of the new iceberg was the biggest such event ever recorded in the area. As
much ice broke off the glacier as it usually releases in about seven years.

The iceberg is about six-hundred square kilometers. It is four-hundred meters thick. The iceberg now is moving
toward the northwest. Experts say its creation shows that western Antarctica is changing quickly. Experts say
formation of the iceberg is not expected to affect sea levels on Earth. However, it is not clear how it may
influence the climate.

The Pine Island Glacier is the fastest moving glacier on the continent. It releases more ice into Antarctica than
any other glacier. It is in the area of the West Antarctic ice sheet that scientists believe is most likely to break
apart.

American space agency scientist Robert Bindschadler works at the Goddard Space Flight Center in the state of
Maryland. The NASA expert was studying satellite pictures of the Pine Island Glacier in January of last year. He
noted³ a thin break in its ice. This crack measured about twenty-five kilometers long. It extended more than two-
thirds of the way across the glacier. Satellite photos taken ten months earlier had not shown a crack.

Other agencies that observe the Earth helped NASA watch the crack develop. The researchers used special
instruments to measure its growth. During the first five weeks, it grew very fast. Then the crack grew at an
average of about fifteen meters a day. The last ten kilometers of the cracking area broke off within days. The
iceberg was formed at least six months faster than scientists had expected.

NASA and the United States Geological Survey work together to make maps of Antarctica. Their joint⁴ project is
called Landsat Seven. Landsat equipment can see objects as small as fifteen meters across. Before the project
began, many parts of Antarctica had never been seen this well before.

This VOA Special English Science Report was written by Jerilyn Watson.

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1 glacier   

n.冰川，冰河

参考例句：

• The glacier calved a large iceberg.冰河崩解而形成一个大冰山。
• The upper surface of glacier is riven by crevasses.冰川的上表面已裂成冰隙。

2 iceberg   

n.冰山，流冰，冷冰冰的人

参考例句：

• The ship hit an iceberg and went under.船撞上一座冰山而沉没了。
• The glacier calved a large iceberg.冰河崩解而形成一个大冰山。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。