By Sid Perkins
A huge crack that grew across an Antarctic glacier for more than a year has spawned a gargantuan iceberg much earlier than expected.
Scientists first reported the 25-kilometer-long fissure in the Pine Island Glacier in satellite photos in January 2001 (SN: 5/12/01, p. 298: Big Bergs Ahoy!). Since then, they’ve been able to detect the crack in images collected as far back as September 2000.
After an adolescent growth spurt, the crevasse slowed its midlife advance to about 15 meters per day.