Two huge chunks of ice, covering 7 square miles (18 square kilometres), have snapped off Canada’s northern quarters. The break up, at the Ward Hunt ice shelf off Ellesmere Island, is the biggest break-up of ice in the region in three years.

Scientists involved are being coy about using the GW words, instead saying that now our climate is different, there ain’t no way the ice is going to rebuild itself every year. Elsewhere, other scientists are saying that it’s definitely climate change, and it’s happening fast.

The news has travelled far, although some reports, probably originating from the short AP report, only mention one, rather than two chunks.

Arctic Explorer Will Steger also waded in (Market Watch) saying that he’s not seen anything like this in all his born days, and that “long-term thaw of Arctic ice has begun”.

Picture credit Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC