FIle- In this Aug. 17, 2005 file photo glaciers and icebergs of the Greenland ice cap are seen over Greenland. The last decade has been marked by dramatic effects of warming. In 2007-2009, the summer melt has shrunk the Arctic Ocean ice cap to its smallest extent ever recorded. In the 2007-2009 International Polar Year, researchers found that Antarctica is warming more than previously believed and that lmost all glaciers worldwide are retreating. Meanwhile, such destructive species as jellyfish and bark-eating beetles are moving northward out of normal ranges, and seas expanding from warmth and glacier melt are encroaching on low-lying island states
FILE - In this image taken on Dec. 5, 2005 and released by Norwegian shipping company Hurtigruten, two of the Norwegian shipping company's cruise ships, the M/S Nordnorge, left, and M/S Nordkapp in Paradise Bay in the Antarctica. In 2007, M/S Nordkapp, with nearly 300 passengers on board, ran aground in the Antarctic and damaged its hull before getting free of rocks. Officials said Wednesday Dec. 9, 2009, countries that manage Antarctica want strong new controls on ships visiting the frozen continent to reduce the growing threat of human and environmental disasters posed by exploding numbers of tourists.
This undated photo received on December 9, 2009 from the Australian Antarctic Division, courtesy of gsfc/NASA shows a satellite image of iceberg B17B (top L), some 19 kilometres (12 miles) long, floating in the Ross Sea, near Antarctica. The monster iceberg nearly twice the size of Hong Kong island has been spotted drifting towards Australia in what scientists on December 9, 2009 called a once-in-a-century event.
This photo taken on November 5, 2009 and received on December 9, 2009 from the Australian Antarctic Division, courtesy of gsfc/NASA, shows a satellite image of iceberg B17B (C), some 19 kilometres (12 miles) long, floating southwest of the West Australian coast, between Australia and Antarctica. The monster iceberg nearly twice the size of Hong Kong island has been spotted drifting towards Australia in what scientists on December 9, 2009 called a once-in-a-century event
This image provided by Australian Antarctic Division shows a satellite view of the giant iceberg, fourth from right, named B17B which is moving towards Western Australia, according to a Tasmanian scientist. Glaciologist Neal Young of Australian Antarctic Division said the iceberg, known as B-17-B, was still largely intact and is currently 1700 kilometres south-south-west of the West Australian coast and moving north with the ocean current and prevailing wind. Its journey began almost 10 years ago when it broke away from the Ross ice shelf in Antarctica. Young said it was "very rare" to get such a big iceberg up at those sort of latitudes.
A helicopter carrying seven sightseers is dwarfed by the northernmost iceberg off Dunedin 16 November 2006. Two icebergs drifting off the New Zealand coast have attracted massive interest from sightseers as well as sparking fresh warnings to shipping after their 13,500 kilometre journey from Antarctica. The icebergs were about 100 kilometres (60 miles) off the Otago coast in the south-east of the country 15 November, the closest sighting off New Zealand for 75 years, The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) said
FILE - In this Friday, Feb. 6, 2009 file photo released by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Sea Shepherd crew aboard the M/Y Steve Irwin, foreground, throw bottles of rotten butter at Japanese harpoon whaling vessel, Yushin Maru No. 3 while whaling crew fire back with water cannons in Ross Sea off Antarctica. Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd threatened legal action against Japan on Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, if it does not stop its research program that kills up to 1,000 whales a year.
A Weddell seal lies sleeping on the ice with Adelie penguins in the background at Boat Harbour, Commonwealth Bay in Antarctica December 14, 2009. Getting to and from work can be annoying if you hit traffic, but for Mireille Raccurt, it takes more than 10 days of flying and sailing through treacherous seas to get to her job
Two Adelie penguins rest on the shores of Commonwealth Bay in Antarctica December 13, 2009. Getting to and from work can be annoying if you hit traffic, but for Mireille Raccurt, it takes more than 10 days of flying and sailing through treacherous seas to get to her job. Picture taken December 13, 2009.
Ice melt shows through at a cliff face at Landsend on the coast of Cape Denison in Antarctica December 14, 2009. Getting to and from work can be annoying if you hit traffic, but for Mireille Raccurt, it takes more than 10 days of flying and sailing through treacherous seas to get to her job.
