- The largest iceberg in the world, A23a, is moving for the first time in more than 30 years.
- The berg can be seen rapidly passing the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.
- A68, a second massive iceberg, caused concern in 2020 that it would crash into South Georgia.
At almost a trillion metric tonnes in weight,the largest iceberg in the world, A23a, is moving for the first time in more than thirty years.
After calving off the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in West Antarctica in 1986, the iceberg—which formerly housed a Soviet research station—became stuck.
The largest iceberg breaks
With the help of powerful winds and currents, the berg can be seen rapidly passing the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula in recent satellite images.
According to glaciologist Oliver Marsh of the British Antarctic Survey, it is likely that the enormous berg will be launched into the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which will direct it toward the Southern Ocean via a route referred to as “iceberg alley.”
It is unknown why the berg moved, but it is probably going to thin out a little and eventually become more buoyant. A23a is one of the oldest icebergs in the world as well.
Given that millions of seals, penguins, and seabirds breed on South Georgia Island and feed in the surrounding waters, A23a may ground there, which would be problematic for Antarctica’s wildlife.
A68, a second massive iceberg, caused concern in 2020 that it would crash into South Georgia, destroying marine life and severing food supplies.
Even though the Southern Ocean is considerably warmer, A23a’s size allows it to potentially survive there and even move further north, up towards South Africa, where it could cause shipping disruptions.
