12 July 2017: Scientists at project MIDAS, a research consortium located at Swansea University and Aberystwyth University in Wales, UK, announced that a one trillion tonne iceberg broke off the Larsen C Ice Shelf in Antarctica. Meanwhile, according to a European climate change service, June 2017 became the second hottest after 2016.

Scientists anticipated the calving of the iceberg for several months, and monitored development of the rift in the Larsen C Ice Shelf over the past year. Since the iceberg was already floating before it calved away, it has no immediate impact on sea level. Yet, its calving leaves the Larsen C Ice Shelf reduced in area by more than 12%, forever changing the landscape of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Martin O’Leary, Swansea University, noted that “this puts the ice shelf in a very vulnerable position” as “this is the furthest back that the ice front has been in recorded history.”

According to Martin O’Leary, Swansea University, “this is a natural event,” and scientists are not aware of any link to human-induced climate change. He notes, however, that “this puts the ice shelf in a very vulnerable position” as “this is the furthest back that the ice front has been in recorded history.” [Project MIDAS Press Release] [SDG Knowledge Hub Adaptation and Loss and Damage Update: Polar Sea Ice at Record Low, Climate Change a “Security Story”]

The news of the iceberg’s calving comes as the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Copernicus Climate Change Service confirms June 2017 as the second hottest on record. A World Meteorological Organization (WMO) summary, based on reports from national meteorological and hydrological services, indicates that, in addition to high average temperatures, extreme weather affected many different parts of the world in June and early July. The past weeks’ weather extremes included temperatures exceeding 53°C in Iran and record low temperatures in the European part of the Russian Federation. [Copernicus Climate Change Service June 2017 Monthly Map] [WMO Press Release] [SDG Knowledge Hub Adaptation and Loss and Damage Update: Regions Enhance Cooperation on DRR as Temperatures Hit New Highs]