Here is the MODIS Rapidfire image of the Jakobshavn Isbræ on September 13, 2009. The tongue is broken. Be sure to click on the photos to enlarge them and view them in more detail.
Below is an image from September 28, 2009. The front of the tongue (tip?) is breaking up. Note that this glacier moves (or the last reported speed) at a pace of only 17 km per year, so that tip of the tongue breaking had nothing to do with the break further in.
Also notice the greyish squiggle (I love that I can use non-scientific language in this blog) in the upper right -- that is the upstream ice stream deep into the the edge of the ice sheet. Further, be aware that the beginning of the tongue starts much further back than the 2006 record.
Can anyone tell me if this is a normal thing that happens every year? I don't think it is, but please correct me if I am wrong.
Sorry -- the images are not crystal clear due to the cloud cover hanging over that area.
UPDATE: CLEAR IMAGES FROM OCTOBER 1, 2009:
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/realtime/single.php?2009274/crefl1_143.A2009274151500-2009274151959.250m.jpg
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/realtime/single.php?2009274/crefl2_143.A2009274153500-2009274154000.250m.jpg
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