Other Antarctic Peninsula ice shelves are also retreating, or have disappeared, over the last decade. Temperatures have increased an average of 2.5 C since the 1940's. In all likelihood, these events are linked. He suggested that the -4 C isotherm provides an upper limit for ice shelf survival. Both the Northern Larsen and Wordie ice shelves were near this limit.
Ice shelves respond to climate change more rapidly than grounded ice sheets or glaciers.
The question remains whether or not the observed warming, and the ice shelf breakups, are manifestations of global climate warming. Beyond that question still further, lies the question of whether current changes in regional climates are anthropogenic or part of a cycle that would have occurred at this time in a non-industrial world. The key to stability is support provided by the Seal Nunataks and Robertson Island, along its new northern front. If the shelf becomes detached from those islands, rapid retreat of the front is likely. Unless there is a change in the observed warming trend, further retreats of fringing ice shelves along the Antarctic Peninsula are the most likely scenario in the near future.