【2000 Archives】

A giant crack in East Antarctica000 Archivesthreatening to cleave off part of the ice where a key research station sits and leave the facility drifting on an iceberg.

The chasm, which was dormant for 35 years, is now growing at a pace of about 1.7 kilometers, or 1 mile, per year on the Brunt ice shelf, according to the British Antarctic Survey.

The U.K. science office on Tuesday said it was preparing to move the Halley VI Research Station to save it from splintering off into the sea. The station is a globally important platform for gathering data on space, weather, climate change and ozone measurements.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable SEE ALSO: NASA photo reveals a startling 300-foot-wide rift in Antarctic Ice Shelf

Scientists in 1985 first discovered a hole in the ozone layer at the station's current location.

British Antarctic Survey said it plans to move Halley VI piece by piece over the next three years to a new location some 23 kilometers, or 14.3 miles, inland.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

The research station was built with such a journey in mind. The facility is made up of eight connected modules that sit atop hydraulically elevated ski-like legs. To move each module, the researchers will tow each module using large tractors to its new home.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

"Halley was designed and engineered specifically to be relocated in response to changes in the ice," Tim Stockings, director of operators at the British Antarctic Survey, said Tuesday in a statement.

"Over the last couple of years, our operational teams have been meticulous in developing very detailed plans for the move," he added. "We are excited by the challenge."

Satellite monitoring in 2012 first revealed signs of the chasm's movement on the 150-meter-thick Brunt ice shelf.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

In the 2015-2016 field season, from November to March, glaciologists used ice-penetrating radar technologies to calculate the chasm's most likely path and speed. They also began making plans for the station's relocation.

East Antarctica, once considered the most stable part of Antarctica, is now showing signs of increased melting due in part to human-caused climate change. Still, the British scientists indicated the Brunt ice shelf's chasm was part of a "natural" glaciological change.

---

Featured Video For You

---

Obama trekked to Exit Glacier to call attention to the impact of global warming

---

• Entertainment
• Deals
• Tech
• Digital Culture
• Games
• Life
• Science
• Shopping

• Best vacuum mop combo deal: Save $140 on the Tineco Floor One S5
• 75 years of the Windrush generation: These 2 new podcasts are a must
• How to change your language on Amazon
• Update your iPhones and Macs now to protect from these security exploits
• Exceptionally rare radio sources detected in the distant universe
• Figma offers free design program to all K
• Google announces new features for ChromeOS, Workspace, Classroom, and more
• 'Black Mirror' episode 'The National Anthem' is still essential
• The best day to book your flight, according to Google
• Unlikely Aphrodisiacs, and Other News by Sadie Stein

• Game critic John 'TotalBiscuit' Bain dies afte battle with cancer
• Apple's iOS 12 update may let you unlock homes, cars using iPhone NFC
• 'Alberto' is the first named storm of the 2018 hurricane season
• The Atari VCS is now available for pre
• San Francisco, LA, and other cities add rules to contain e
• Roseanne quits Twitter after racist tirade, Wanda Sykes leaves show
• 7 ways to really treat dad on Father's Day
• Project Fi is adding the Moto G6, LG G7, and LG V35 to its lineup
• Adorable little girl has the most terrifying imaginary friend ever
• Apple just discounted it's Beats headphone line for a timed sale

• The best day to book your flight, according to Google
• 'Deadloch' review: Feminist Australian buddy
• Hemingway Moves North, and Other News by Sadie Stein
• ‘Black Mirror’s ‘Joan Is Awful’ has 1 key line that foreshadows the ending
• Best robot vacuum deal: Eufy Omni C20 robot vacuum and mop $300 off at Amazon
• ChatGPT vs Bing vs Bard: You can pick the best in this chatbot arena
• The World of Tomorrow by Sadie Stein
• The Paris Review Wins National Magazine Award by Lorin Stein
• Best iPad deal: Save $132 on Apple iPad (10th Gen)
• How to change your language on Amazon

• Ireland fines TikTok $600 million for sharing user data with China
• Proust, Lost in Translation by Alexander Aciman
• A World Without Books by Sadie Stein
• A Dinner in Moscow by Jonathan Wilson
• Best JBL deal: Save $80 on JBL Xtreme 4 portable speaker
• A Dinner in Moscow by Jonathan Wilson
• Dr. Anthony Fauci vaccinated Santa Claus himself, he said
• Unpoetic Day Jobs, and Other News by Sadie Stein
• NYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for May 18: Tips to solve Connections #237
• A Bigger, Brighter Screen by Lorin Stein