RantCrush Top 5: June 2, 2017

An enormous iceberg the size of Delaware is very close to splitting from one of Antarctica’s largest ice shelves. Scientists have photographed a crack in the massive iceberg that is now only eight miles away from the open ocean. They believe it could break off from the ice shelf as soon as this summer, and are pretty confident that cause is linked to global warming. The crack has reportedly grown 11 miles just in the past week.

Delaware-sized iceberg on verge of split from Antarctic shelf https://t.co/7n0vbsgUkT pic.twitter.com/cq6X1NdfZu

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) June 2, 2017

Scientists say that when it does break off from the larger ice sheet, called Larsen C, it will reduce the size of the sheet by 10 percent, increasing the risk that Larsen C itself breaks up into smaller chunks and then melts. However, even more concerning than the current iceberg issue is the destabilization of the glaciers in Western Antarctica, which could lead to a three-foot rise in sea levels.

Covfefe got more press than a Delaware-sized iceberg breaking off Antarctica, symbolizing a climate crisis that threatens all life on Earth.

— David Sirota (@davidsirota) June 1, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.