Largest in the world, A23a, that broke off from Antarctica and has since been drifting through the Atlantic. And now this is on a collision course with South Georgia, a British territory. At some 280 kilometers away, powerful ocean currents and winds are pushing the ice behemoth toward the island.
A Giant of Ice
Spanning almost 4,000 square kilometers, A23a is roughly six times the size of Mumbai and one enormous ‘megaberg’. It has been drifting for two years after calving from the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in West Antarctica. For 37 years, this iceberg stayed at the same place, but now it has broken loose and might reach South Georgia Island.
About the Ecological Concerns
If A23a were to ground near South Georgia, the island’s ecosystem would be severely affected, with penguin parents who may not feed their chicks being the most vulnerable, thus the young might starve. Though the iceberg moves at a pace of about one meter every three to seven seconds, the threat it poses to wildlife is still significant. The island is an important breeding ground for penguins, seals, and seabirds, and the iceberg may cut off their foraging routes.
Tracking the Megaberg’s Journey
Scientists with the British Antarctic Survey are keeping a sharp eye on A23a thanks to satellite images. Last December, scientists on board the RRS Sir David Attenborough captured breathtaking images of the iceberg during the BIOPOLE cruise, showing its sheer size as it stretched out well beyond the research vessel. While the situation is being watched with concern, scientists are hopeful the iceberg will be guided safely out by ocean currents.