A once-mighty iceberg that calved from Antarctica almost 40 years ago is finally disintegrating in the South Atlantic, with scientists predicting it could vanish within weeks.
The colossal block of ice, known as A23a, was once among the largest icebergs ever recorded, weighing nearly a trillion tons and spanning more than twice the size of Greater London. For more than three decades, it remained grounded in the Weddell Sea before breaking free in 2020 and drifting into warmer waters.
Satellite data analyzed by the EU’s Copernicus Earth observation program shows that A23a is now less than half its original size, measuring about 1,770 square kilometers. In recent weeks, massive sections—some as large as 400 square kilometers—have broken away, with smaller but still dangerous fragments littering shipping routes.
“It’s breaking up fairly dramatically,” Andrew Meijers, a physical oceanographer at the British Antarctic Survey, told AFP. “The water is way too warm for it to survive. It’s basically rotting from underneath.” He estimated the iceberg may no longer be identifiable within weeks.
Earlier this year, A23a raised concerns when it ran aground near South Georgia Island, where scientists feared it could block access to feeding grounds for penguins and seals. The berg later dislodged and continued its northward journey at speeds of up to 20 kilometers per day, before succumbing to the warmer ocean and powerful waves.
Scientists note that while iceberg calving is a natural phenomenon, the increasing frequency of massive break-offs in Antarctica is likely linked to human-driven climate change. A23a’s remarkable survival for nearly four decades highlights its exceptional size, but its rapid decline is a reminder of how vulnerable these frozen giants are once they leave the frigid embrace of the Southern Ocean.
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