The world’s largest iceberg , known as A23a, has resumed its movement after years of apparent immobility. Located north of the South Orkney Islands, the ice mass, twice the size of London, is now adrift in the Southern Ocean.
Formed in 1986 after breaking off from the Filchner Ice Shelf, the A23a remained anchored to the seabed of the Weddell Sea for more than 30 years . However, its history took a turn in 2020, when it began a slow drift northwards, a journey marked by unique oceanographic phenomena.
Iceberg A23a is also the oldest in the world. Source: British Antarctic Survey
For months, this giant was trapped in a Taylor column, an oceanographic phenomenon that caused it to spin in one direction, slowing its progress.
Where is the world’s largest iceberg going?
According to the British Antarctic Survey, A23a is en route to the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, a pathway that could take it to warmer waters near the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. Scientists point out that as the iceberg moves forward, its interaction with the ocean has the potential to influence global carbon and nutrient cycles. Laura Taylor, an expert in biogeochemistry, points out that these giant icebergs can create productive ecosystems by providing essential nutrients.
The impact of its breakup could be significant, however. A23a, which weighs nearly a trillion tons , will break up into smaller blocks when exposed to warmer temperatures, a process that could disrupt the feeding routes of species such as king penguins.
For experts, this event is a crucial opportunity to study how Antarctic ice melting influences global oceans. Andrew Meijers, oceanographer for the OCEAN:ICE project , highlights the importance of monitoring these processes in a context of accelerating climate change.
It’s exciting to see A23a moving again after periods of being stuck. We’re interested to see if it will follow the same path as other large icebergs that have broken off from Antarctica.
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Source: British Antarctic Survey
Photos: shutterstock