The collapse last week of an ice shelf the size of New York City was the first time scientists have ever seen an ice shelf collapse in this cold area of Antarctica.
It lost more than 40 per cent of its area in just two days at the end of July, researchers said on Thursday.
Scientists are divided about the impact of climate change on this particular break in Antarctica's ice shelf.
Earth's poles are undergoing simultaneous freakish extreme heat with parts of Antarctica more than 70 degrees (40 degrees Celsius) warmer than average and areas of the Arctic more than 50 degrees (30 degrees Celsius) warmer than average.
