World’s largest iceberg breaks free, drifts past Antarctica’s northern tip
World’s largest iceberg breaks free, drifts past Antarctica’s northern tip
SANTIAGO: The world’s largest iceberg is on the move for the first time in more than three decades, scientists said on Friday. At almost 4,000 square kilometres, the Antarctic iceberg, A23a, is roughly three times the size of New York City.
Since calving off West Antarctica’s Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in 1986, the iceberg, which once hosted a Soviet research station, has largely been stranded after its base became stuck on the floor of the Weddell Sea.
Not anymore. Recent satellite images reveal that the berg, weighing nearly a trillion tonnes, is now drifting quickly past the northern tip of the Antarctic peninsula, aided by strong winds and currents. “It’s rare to see an iceberg of this size on the move,” said British Antarctic Survey glaciologist Oliver Marsh, so scientists will be watching its trajectory closely.
Similar stories
Comments are closed.