# Wilkins Sound > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Wilkins_Sound > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Wilkins_Sound.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkins_Sound > Source revision: 1334831883 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Seaway in Antarctica}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox islands | name = Wilkins Sound | image_name = Ant-pen_map.png | image_caption = Wilkins Sound within Antarctica | locator_map = | map_custom = | nickname = | location = [Antarctica](/source/Antarctica) | coordinates = | archipelago = | total_islands = | major_islands = | area_km2 = | rank = | highest_mount = | elevation_m = | population = | population_as_of = | density_km2 = | ethnic_groups = | country = Antarctica | treaty_system = [Antarctic Treaty System](/source/Antarctic_Treaty_System) }} '''Wilkins Sound''' is a [seaway](/source/sound_(geography)) in [Antarctica](/source/Antarctica) that is largely occupied by the '''Wilkins Ice Shelf'''. It is located on the southwest side of the [Antarctic Peninsula](/source/Antarctic_Peninsula) between the concave western coastline of [Alexander Island](/source/Alexander_Island) and the shores of [Charcot Island](/source/Charcot_Island) and [Latady Island](/source/Latady_Island) farther to the west. Its northern portion was first seen and roughly mapped in 1910 by the [French Antarctic Expedition](/source/French_Antarctic_Expedition) under [Jean-Baptiste Charcot](/source/Jean-Baptiste_Charcot) and was observed from the air in 1929 by Sir [Hubert Wilkins](/source/Hubert_Wilkins). The configuration of the sound was determined in 1940 on exploratory flights by the [US Antarctic Service](/source/US_Antarctic_Service) (USAS). It was named by the USAS for Sir [Hubert Wilkins](/source/Hubert_Wilkins), who in 1929 first proved "Charcot Land" to be an island (see [Charcot Island](/source/Charcot_Island)) and thereby indirectly discovered this feature. The existence of Latady Island at the southwest side of the sound was determined in 1960 by [D.J.H. Searle](/source/D.J.H._Searle) of [Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey](/source/Falkland_Islands_Dependencies_Survey) (FIDS) by examination of air photos taken by the 1947–48 [Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition](/source/Ronne_Antarctic_Research_Expedition). On 5 April 2009 the thin bridge of ice to Charcot Island splintered, and scientists expect it could cause the collapse of the Shelf. There are reports the shelf has exploded into hundreds of small [iceberg](/source/iceberg)s. [David Vaughan](/source/David_Vaughan_(scientist)) of the [British Antarctic Survey](/source/British_Antarctic_Survey) has attributed these events to [global warming](/source/global_warming).{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7983955.stm|title=Antarctic ice bridge splits|date=5 April 2009|access-date=2009-04-06 | work=BBC News}} ==Wilkins Ice Shelf== thumb|right|230px|2008 partial collapse thumb|right|230px|Diagram showing region of ice preventing further collapse {{Wikinews|Massive ice shelf expected to break away from Antarctica}} The Wilkins Ice Shelf is a rectangular [ice shelf](/source/ice_shelf) about {{convert|80|nmi|km}} long and {{convert|60|nmi|km}} wide ({{convert|150|by|110|km|mi|abbr=on}}). This feature occupies the central part of Wilkins Sound, from which it takes its name. The name was proposed by the [UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee](/source/UK_Antarctic_Place-Names_Committee) (UK-APC) in 1971. ===Breakup and collapse events=== {{further|Retreat of glaciers since 1850}} In 1993, Professor David Vaughan of the [British Antarctic Survey](/source/British_Antarctic_Survey) (BAS) predicted that the northern part of the Wilkins ice shelf was likely to be lost within 30 years if climate warming on the Peninsula were to continue at the same rate.{{cite web |url=http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/press/press_releases/press_release.php?id=376 |publisher=British Antarctic Survey |title=Antarctic ice shelf hangs by a thread |date=2008-03-25 |access-date=2009-04-05 |archive-date=2 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502165641/http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/press/press_releases/press_release.php?id=376 |url-status=dead }} A study by the [National Academy of Sciences](/source/United_States_National_Academy_of_Sciences) in 2002 stated, "Because air temperatures are statistically increasing along the [Antarctic Peninsula](/source/Antarctic_Peninsula) region, the presence of glacial [meltwater](/source/meltwater) is likely to become more prevalent in these surface waters and continue to play an ever-increasing role in driving this fragile ecosystem." In 2008 David Vaughan conceded his predictions had been too conservative and that events on the ground were moving quicker than he anticipated.{{cite web |url=https://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM2U5THKHF_index_0.html |title=Wilkins Ice Shelf hanging by its last thread |access-date=2008-08-08 |date=2008-07-10 |publisher=[European Space Agency](/source/European_Space_Agency) }} On 25 March 2008 a {{convert|405|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} chunk of the Wilkins ice shelf disintegrated, putting an even larger portion of the glacial ice shelf at risk.[https://www.usatoday.com/tech/.../2008-03-25-4270493581_x.htm Associated Press, "Western Antarctic Ice Chunk Collapses"]Satellite imagery from the United States [http://nsidc.org/news/press/20080325_Wilkins.html "National Snow and Ice Data Center"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418164957/http://nsidc.org/news/press/20080325_Wilkins.html |date=18 April 2014 }} Scientists at the University of Colorado at Boulder offered the first alert. ([http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do?id=12976&formato=HTML Mercopress, "Gigantic ice shelf breaking away"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080601181428/http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do?id=12976&formato=HTML |date=1 June 2008 }}, 2008-03-26). Scientists were surprised when they discovered the rest of the {{convert|14000|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}The US state of Connecticut is {{convert|5543|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}, the island of [Jamaica](/source/Jamaica) {{convert|4244|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}. ice shelf is beginning to break away from the continent. What is left of the Wilkins ice shelf is now connected by only a narrow beam of ice.{{cite web |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13530-antarctic-iceshelf-hanging-by-a-thread.html |title=Antarctic ice shelf 'hanging by a thread' |publisher=[New Scientist](/source/New_Scientist) |date=2008-03-25 |access-date=2008-03-25}} At the end of May 2008, another break-off further reduced the width of the connecting ice strip from {{convert|6|to(-)|2.7|km|mi|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080613104743.htm |title=Even The Antarctic Winter Cannot Protect Wilkins Ice Shelf |access-date=2008-06-15 |date=2008-06-14 |work=sciencedaily.com}} This second smaller event, with about {{convert|160|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} of ice separating, was the first documented break-up that occurred in winter. The Wilkins Ice Shelf is not connected to inland glaciers in the same way as the [Larsen B Ice Shelf](/source/Larsen_B_Ice_Shelf) was and will therefore have a negligible effect on [sea level rise](/source/sea_level_rise). On 29 November 2008, the [European Space Agency](/source/European_Space_Agency) (ESA) announced that the Wilkins Ice Shelf has lost around {{convert|2000|km2|sqmi}} so far in 2008. A satellite image captured 26 November 2008 shows new rifts on the ice shelf that make it dangerously close to breaking away from the strip of ice—and the islands to which it is connected, the ESA said.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/29/antarctic.ice.shelf.collapse/index.html |title=New rifts form on Antarctic ice shelf |publisher=CNN.com |date=2008-11-29 |access-date=2009-04-05}} On 20 January 2009, [Reuters](/source/Reuters) reported that the ice shelf could collapse into the ocean within "weeks or months". The shelf was then only held up by a very thin strip of ice (varying from 2 km to 500 meters at the narrowest), which made it very vulnerable to cracks and fissures. If the strip were to break, it would release the ice shelf, which now has the area of the state of [Connecticut](/source/Connecticut) (about 14,000 km2).{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE50I4G520090120?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0 |title=Antarctic ice shelf set to collapse due to warming |publisher=Reuters |date=2009-01-20 |access-date=2009-04-05}} Satellite evidence from 2 April 2009 led ESA analysts to conclude that the collapse of the strip (which would result in a partial break-away from the Antarctic Peninsula) was "imminent".{{cite web |url=https://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMD07EH1TF_index_0.html |title=Collapse of the ice bridge supporting Wilkins Ice Shelf appears imminent |publisher=ESA |date=2009-04-03 |access-date=2009-04-04}} according to this determination, ESA's [Envisat](/source/Envisat) satellite is observing the area daily. The satellite acquisitions are updated automatically to monitor the developments immediately as they occur.{{cite web |url=https://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMWZS5DHNF_index_0.html |title=ESA - Observing the Earth - Keeping an eye on Wilkins Ice Shelf |publisher=ESA |access-date=2009-04-05}} Additionally [NASA](/source/NASA)'s [Terra](/source/Terra_(satellite)) and [Aqua](/source/Aqua_(satellite)) satellites overfly the area several times a day and some of the images acquired are also available.{{cite web|author=Miguel Angel Rubio Escudero |url=https://decsai.ugr.es/~mrubio/wilkins/ |title=The Unofficial Wilkins Ice Shelf Spacecam |publisher=Decsai.ugr.es |access-date=2012-06-21}} On 5 April 2009, the [ice bridge](/source/ice_bridge) connecting part of the ice shelf to [Charcot Island](/source/Charcot_Island) collapsed.{{cite news |title=Ice Bridge Holding Antarctic Shelf in Place Shatters |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/science/earth/05antarctica.html |work=The New York Times |date=2009-04-05 |access-date=2009-04-05}} The break occurred at the thinnest point in the {{convert|40|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} bridge and was the first in any of the sections that connect it to the mainland.{{cite news |title=Ice bridge ruptures in Antarctic |publisher=BBC News |date=2009-04-05 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7984054.stm |access-date=2009-04-05}} While only a section has broken away, some scientists predicted that another large section of the Wilkins Ice Shelf was only days away from completely breaking off.{{cite news |title=Antarctic ice shelf half the size of Scotland on verge of collapse |work=The Guardian |date=2009-04-05 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/apr/05/ice-shelf-wilkins-antarctic |access-date=2009-04-05 | location=London | first=Paul | last=Harris}} The shelf remains connected to [Latady Island](/source/Latady_Island), although it has been stated that this connection "looks set to collapse" as well.{{cite news |title=Ice shelf about to break away from Antarctic coast |agency=Associated Press |date=2009-04-04 |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h1YwRKCHpwN65ds0uwNjB7W0JQ-QD97B7K100 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406205015/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h1YwRKCHpwN65ds0uwNjB7W0JQ-QD97B7K100 |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 April 2009 |access-date=2009-04-05}} The breakaway is seen as firm evidence of the ongoing effects of warming.{{cite news |title=Antarctic ice shelf breaks up |publisher=BBC News |date=2009-04-05 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7983955.stm |access-date=2009-04-05}} Temperatures in this region of Antarctica have risen by 2.5 degrees Celsius since the 1950s. Some scientists believe that the collapse of the weakened ice was triggered by increased wave action due to the current relative absence of sea ice, however, a prominent glaciologist, Doug MacAyeal, has said the trigger for the original break-up in March 2008 was likely the much longer wavelengths of ocean swells created by distant storms.{{cite web |title=Wilkins Ice Shelf|url=http://antarcticsun.usap.gov/science/contenthandler.cfm?id=1762|publisher=[The Antarctic Sun](/source/The_Antarctic_Sun) |date=2009-05-01 |access-date=2009-05-01}} If the entire shelf, which is approximately the size of [Jamaica](/source/Jamaica) (10,991 km2, 4,244 sq mi), does completely break away from land it would be the largest one to do so, thus far. In April 2009 alone, approximately 700 square kilometers (about 270.3 square miles) have broken off Wilkins Sound since the collapse of the ice bridge.{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE53R27V20090428?rpc=64 |title=New York City-sized ice collapses off Antarctica |publisher=Reuters |date=2009-04-28 |access-date=2009-04-30}} The disintegration of the fringe of the ice shelf, weakened by previous breakups, has continued in March 2013.{{cite web |title=Breakup Continues on the Wilkins Ice Shelf |url=https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/81174 |website=NASA Earth observatory |access-date=6 July 2018}} Image:Wilkins Ice Bridge Collapse (1).jpg|The Wilkins ice bridge still intact. Image:Wilkins Ice Bridge Collapse (2).jpg|The ice bridge is gone, replaced by chunks of ice. ==See also== {{Portal|Geography}} {{commons}} *[Bellingshausen Sea](/source/Bellingshausen_Sea) *[George VI Sound](/source/George_VI_Sound) *[Larsen Ice Shelf](/source/Larsen_Ice_Shelf) *[List of Antarctic ice shelves](/source/List_of_Antarctic_ice_shelves) *[Rothschild Island](/source/Rothschild_Island) ==Notes== {{Commons category}} {{Reflist|30em}} {{usgs-gazetteer|id=16616}} {{coord|70|15|S|73|00|W|type:waterbody_scale:2000000|display=title}} Category:Sounds (geography) of Antarctica Category:Bodies of water of Alexander Island --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Wilkins Sound](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkins_Sound) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkins_Sound?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.