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Ice breaker

Adam Walton learns how icebergs are studied from space and why scientists in Wales are closely following a growing crack on an ice shelf in Antarctica.

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 21 May 2017 06:31

Understanding calving events in the Antarctic

Scientists in Wales have developed quite an expertise in studying glaciers from the warmth of their university rooms. Prof Adrian Luckman and his team at Swansea University have been carefully monitoring a large crack in the Larsen C ice shelf, which has recently forked. With a second fissure now headed to the shelf front, it may be that in the comingΒ months there may be a major calving event on thisΒ glacier the size of Wales.

Adam Walton talks to Prof Luckman about his research andΒ about the implications for the Antarctic and the wider world. Much of his workΒ has been facilitated by satellite photographs of the glaciers. And this technique has been championed at Aberystwyth University's Centre for Glaciology, where Dr Tom Holt has been studying the structure and development of ice shelves.

If their work has whetted your appetite, you might want to follow the progress on Larsen C using the links included on this page.Β Β Β Β 

Broadcasts

  • Tue 16 May 2017 18:30
  • Sun 21 May 2017 06:31

Adam Walton

Adam Walton

Adam's "other job" - tune in every Saturday at 10 PM for the best new music from Wales.