Out of the World – Anniversaries and Goodbyes - Apollo Mapping
Posted on August 1st, 2017

Out of the World – Anniversaries and Goodbyes

In the last hundred years we have seen unprecedented innovation in aeronautical technology. At the forefront of this research is the NASA Langley Research Center. Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, NASA is looking back on everything they have accomplished through this ambitious research facility.

Established just after World War I, who could have imagined that less than 100 years later engineers would move from propeller driven planes to landing men on the Moon and shuttling spacecraft deep into space. For the remained of the year, NASA will be highlighting the research and technology that has propelled us into the future under the hashtag #NASALangley100.

A 45-minute documentary delves into the last 100 years as well as the present, highlighting the roll aeronautics has played in United States history. There is far too much material to regurgitate here, so sit back, relax and enjoy the show.


Grab a cup of coffee and enter full screen mode to get the most out of this 45-minute documentary on the NASA Langley Research Center. (Credit: NASA)

Larson C is Breaking Up, is This Goodbye?

NASA scientists are keeping a close eye on Antarctica’s Larson C ice shelf as a large iceberg, the size of Delaware, split off from it. Larson C is an area of glacial ice that floats on the East side of the Antarctic Peninsula and is the fourth largest of its kind. Calving incidents like this one are normal for ice shelves, as long as the ice gained through regular snow fall balances out the ice lost. Scientist will be looking closely to see how the rest of the ice shelf reacts to losing 10% of its area.

If this is a normal calving incident then the rest of the ice shelf will remain intact. Pinning points anchor the shelf and provide support. Current measurements affirm that the major pinning point for Larson C was not calved in this recent event. Researchers are holding their breath, hoping to avoid the fate of the Larson A and Larson B ice shelves that collapsed after major calving events and directly contributed to sea level rise. Only time will tell if Larson C will suffer the same fate and drive further sea level rise around the world.

The Larson B ice shelf collapsed in 2002 causing a chain of events that has led to the disintegration of the ice shelf. Researchers believe it will be gone completely by the end of the decade. (Credit: NASA)

Katie Nelson
Geospatial Ninja
(303) 718-7163
katie@apollomapping.com

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