Fed: Antarctic ice shelf split due to global warming: Garrett

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-2009
Fed: Antarctic ice shelf split due to global warming: Garrett

CANBERRA, April 6 AAP - Global warming no doubt contributed to the shattering of a
major ice shelf in Antarctica, Environment Minister Peter Garrett says.

The ice bridge linking the Wilkins Ice Shelf and two islands snapped at the weekend.

"I don't think there is any doubt global warming is contributing to what we are seeing
on the Wilkins Ice Shelf and also more generally in Antarctica," Mr Garrett told ABC television
from Washington on Monday.

The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), comprised of peak scientific
bodies from 23 countries, including Australia, will present modelling on global warming
at a conference in the US on Monday night.

It has found ice loss has accelerated and the sea level could rise by as much as six
metres by the end of the century.

Mr Garrett said he had not seen the SCAR report yet.

"The fact is we are now entering a period where we are in a position to observe, particularly
in the Antarctic, the consequences of global warming and climate change," he said.

AAP mj/rs

KEYWORD: ANTARCTICA AUST

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