Satellite images reveal massive disintegration of Antarctic ice

SATELLITE images from the European Space Agency (ESA) show massive amounts of ice are breaking away from an ice shelf on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula, researchers said.

The Wilkins Ice Shelf had been stable for most of the last century, but began retreating in the 1990s. Researchers believe it was held in place by an ice bridge linking Charcot Island to the Antarctic mainland.

But the 330sq-kilometre bridge lost two large chunks last year and then shattered completely on April 5.