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The New Zealand Herald reports on the work of New Zealand scientists who are uncovering the past climate to try to predict the future.

"Initial analysis of sea-floor cores near Scott Base suggest the Ross Ice Shelf had collapsed in the past and had probably done so suddenly.

The team's co-chief scientist, Tim Naish, told The Press newspaper the sediment record was important because it provided crucial evidence about how the Ross Ice Shelf would react to climate change, with potential to dramatically increase sea levels.

'If the past is any indication of the future, then the ice shelf will collapse,' he said."

The collapse of the Ross Ice Shelf might greatly increase the speed at which the whole West Antarctic Ice Shelf ice begins to interact with the oceans.

You can read the whole story here:

Massive ice shelf 'may collapse without warning'

New Zealand Herald. November 29, 2006