Earth's largest iceberg has run aground off the coast of south georgia island, a common rendezvous spot for large icebergs, new satellite images show.
Measuring 1,240 Square Miles (3,460 Square Kilometers), the Antarctic iceberg a-23a Has come to a grinding halt after a long and winding journey across the scotia sea, also know as “iceberg alley.”
Satellite images taken at the beginning of March show the iCeberg parked on a shallow underwater shelf off the coast of the coast of south georgia island, which is a british overesas territory in the south aTLANTIC OCENTIC OCENTIC OCE Larget of nine islands that make up the south georgia and south sandwich islands.
The new images of a-23a was taken by the modis Nasa's aqua satelliteEarlier observations sugges the iceberg's Northward Drift Slowed Suddenly in Late FEBRUARY, According to a statement from Nasa's Earth observatorry.
Related: Satellites Watch World's Larget Iceberg on Crash Course with Antarctic Penguin Island (Photo/Video)
“I think the big question now is wheether the strong current will trap it there as it melts and breakes up or bes it will spin eound to the south of the south of the island like previous bers,” JORGS, ” Oceanography at nasa's jet propulsion laboratory in southern california, Said in the statement“Time will tell.”
Ocean Currents Have Carried Other Notable Icebergs to this Same Region, Including the Trillion-Ton A-68A. Initially stranded in December 2020, A-68A Quickly Broke Into Main Pies that Continued to Fracture and Eventutically disintegrated over the Course of Three Monts, Adding 152 Billion metric tons Water to the Northern Scotia Sea Around South Georgia.
A-23a has Travelled more than 1,200 miles (2,000 km) Broke Away from the Seafloor and Began to Drift in the Early 2020s. Since Stranding Near South Georgia Island, Several Small Ice Fragments Have Already Chipped Away from A-23A, as Seen in the New Satellite Images.
“When icebergs make it this far north, they eventually success Warmer WatersWinds and currents that make this ocean area a challenge for all seafarers, “NASA Officials Said in the Statement.
While there is no permanent human population on the remote island, south georgia supports abundant life, from seals and penguins to tiny phytoplankton. Fresh water melting From the bottom of the iceberg could affect the local Ocean Environment and Flora and Fauna along the island's shoreline. Satellites will continue to monitor the iceberg and any ice fragments that break off into the ocean.
