A gigantic iceberg has broken off the Petermann glacier in north west Greenland, according to media reports citing the Arctic Sea Ice Blog network. Satellite photographs show the iceberg measuring some 120 km.

The Petermann glacier is the world’s northernmost glacier and began causing concern in 2010 when an iceberg measuring more than 200 km. – the largest ever registered in Greenland - broke off and began moving to the Nares Strait.

Scientists and environmental organisations have been worried that major break-offs from the Petermann ice shelf herald an uncontrollable thaw of Greenland’s ice-cap.

According to Greenland’s Radio, researchers from the Byrd Polar Research Centre at Ohio State University have repeatedly expressed concern at the number of large icebergs breaking off from Petermann in recent years.

Researchers are worried that developments at Petermann accelerate to a degree that a self-reinforcing and irreversible tipping point may be reached.

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