Date: November 25, 2023 Time: 23:51:30
Iceberg A23a “calved” or fell from a large continental glacier on the western side of the Ronne Ice Shelf and floated in the Weddell Sea before ending up on the ocean floor in 1986. With an area of nearly four thousand square kilometers and weighing almost a billion tons, it is approximately three times the size of New York and twice the size of so-called “Greater London,” reports Fox News.
Its gigantic size makes it the largest iceberg in the world, and it only briefly lost the title to Iceberg A76 before the iceberg broke into three fragments. The trajectory of the iceberg will take it out of the shallow waters of Antarctica and into much of the Southern Ocean, following a path known as “iceberg alley”, where other pieces will remain. Scientists track the movement of the iceberg using satellite images, allowing them to precisely plot its trajectory. They noticed that the iceberg was accelerating as it moved away from the shore. British Antarctic Service top official Oliver Marsh told Reuters the iceberg was finally able to move from its position on the ocean floor after reducing in size over recent decades, giving it “additional buoyancy” that also allowed it to gain more speed. faster than expected. . scientists.
Scientists estimate that the iceberg could become stuck again once it reaches South Georgia Island, which could prove problematic for local wildlife as the chunk of ice could block much-needed access to essential food. South Georgia is home to a variety of animals, including seals, penguins and other seabirds that breed on the island. Lack of access to food can threaten the population of newborn animals. If the iceberg does not cause problems for South Georgia, it could end up heading towards South Africa, where it could cause widespread disruption to shipping routes. Ultimately, A23a may suffer the same fate as A76 and another huge iceberg, A68, which also broke into smaller pieces upon entering warmer waters.
THE NAIS IS OFFICIAL EDITOR ON NAIS NEWS