A large shelf of ice the size of Connecticut is anticipated to break awayfrom the Antarctic Peninsula, according to officials.The Wilkins Ice Shelf has developed rifts between itself and mainlandislands as detected in satellited images. The shelf was stable for the majorityof the last century and began its separation in the 90s, according to theEuropean Space Agency. It is the largest ice shelf on the Peninsula that hasbeen under threat.
The ice shelf is already floating, so it will not cause the sea level torise if it should break away completely. However, wildlife and vegetation mayhave to adapt to the change.
This follows several previous breaks on the ice shelf. In May of 2008 itlost a 62-square-mile piece, and in February of that year it lost a total ofabout 164 square miles.
