Le glacier Hektoria établit un record moderne de retrait rapide

Le glacier Hektoria en Antarctique a perdu 15 miles de longueur en seulement 15 mois, marquant le retrait de glace ancrée le plus rapide observé à l'époque moderne. L'effondrement s'est produit entre début 2022 et le printemps 2023 sur la partie orientale de la péninsule Antarctique.

Le retrait rapide du glacier a commencé après l'effondrement de la barrière de glace Larsen B en 2002, qui a supprimé une barrière stabilisatrice. En janvier 2022, la banquise côtière dans la baie s'est fragmentée, permettant à la langue de glace flottante de se détacher à plusieurs reprises au cours de l'été austral et de reculer d'environ 16 kilomètres. Le glacier s'est brièvement stabilisé durant l'hiver 2022 mais a continué de s'amincir sous la surface.

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