On February 28, in western Antarctica, a 160-square-mile ice chunk collapsed. This portion of ice is said to be the edge of the Wilkins shelf, which has been around for about 1,500 years. Until now, that is.

The British Antarctic Survey scientist David Vaughan said that this is the result of global warming. The event was detected by the satellite images, and upon noticing, the scientists immediately diverted other satellite cameras and sent an airplane to fly over the iceberg to document the ongoing collapse.

As for the rest of the Wilkins ice shelf, estimated to be about the size of Connecticut, it is now barely holding on together by a narrow beam of thin ice. It is now feared that this too will collapse anytime soon.

However, although this collapse is a sure sign of global warming, scientists say that they are not concerned about a rise in sea level. According to Sarah Das of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, the event is "more indicative of a tipping point or trigger in the climate system."