In March 2002 a massive ice shelf with a surface area of more than 3,200 square kilometres collapsed into the ocean around western Antarctica. The Larsen B ice shelf had existed for more than 10,000 years, but it split apart in a period of just 35 days. Mike Lanchin hears from the leading glaciologist Pedro Svarka who saw it happen.

Photo: Satellite images showing the collapse of the Larsen B ice shelf in early 2002 (Science Photo Library)