Scientists say that the giant Antarctic glacier, the Pine Island Glacier, is loosing ice four times faster than a decade ago. The glacier in West Antarctica is twice the size of Scotland and is releasing more ice into the sea than any other glacier on the continent. Scientist have been warning for years that sea levels will rise, perhaps to catastrophic levels, as a result of global warming. At the current rate of melting, the main section of the glacier will disappear in just a century. That rate is six times faster than previously thought. The new data was obtained using satellite coverage and might have been overlooked since the glacier is located in the most inaccessible region of Antarctica, 1000 km from the nearest research station. Because the glacier is so large (5400 sq km), its melting into the sea has the potential to double the UN's (science panel on climate change, IPCC) best estimate of 21st century sea rise. If the acceleration continues at the present rate the main trunk of Pine Island Glacier will be afloat within the century according to the lead researcher.map courtesy www.blackaps.wordpress.com