disintegration

/(ˌ)dis-ˌin-tə-ˈgrā-shən/

noun

  1. the act or process of disintegrating or the state of being disintegrated: such as

  2. the breaking down of something into small particles or into its constituent elements

  3. loss of unity or integrity by or as if by breaking into parts

Some glaciers have been destabilized by warmer ocean waters. Scientists fear that parts of the ice sheet may be in the early stages of an unstoppable disintegration.