In early July 2008 the Wilkins Ice Shelf was deemed to be "hanging by its last thread." According to images from the Satellite Envisat, of the European Space Agency (ESA), only a narrow bridge of ice (2.7km wide) still connected the ice shelf to Charcot Island. An official ESA statement claimed that 'since the connection to the island helps stabilise the ice shelf, it is likely the break-up of the bridge will put the remainder of the ice shelf at risk.'
This is not the only global-warming related activity in the region in recent years. Wilkins Ice Shelf, situated in the Antarctic Peninsula (about 1600km south of South America), first started to appear unstable in March 2008, when the bridge attaching it to Charcot Island was reduced to 6km. In 2002 the Larson B ice shelf also collapsed while in 1995 the Larsen A ice shelf experienced the disintegration of almost 2000 square kilometres of ice. Other parts of the peninsula have experienced melting and this is expected to worsen in the future.
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