Satellites watch world's largest iceberg break away from Antarctica

Satellites watch world's largest iceberg break away from Antarctica

The world's largest iceberg, known as A23a, has broken away from Antarctica and is now drifting freely in the Southern Ocean. The iceberg, which is about 4,000 square kilometers (1,544 square miles) in size, calved from the Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986. It had been grounded in the Weddell Sea ever since, but it began to move in 2020.

Scientists have been monitoring the iceberg's movement using satellites. In recent weeks, they have observed that it has accelerated its pace and is now moving at about 15 kilometers per day (9 miles per day). The iceberg is expected to continue drifting northward for several months before eventually breaking up into smaller pieces.

The calving of A23a is a reminder of the ongoing changes taking place in Antarctica as a result of climate change. Warmer temperatures are causing ice shelves to melt and break apart, which is leading to the release of more icebergs into the ocean. This can have a number of impacts, including rising sea levels and changes to ocean currents.

The British Antarctic Survey is continuing to monitor A23a's movement. The organization is also studying the impact of the iceberg on the surrounding marine environment.