A23a: Tracking the world's biggest iceberg as it drifts towards oblivion

[gregmcc]

A23a: Tracking the world's biggest iceberg in Antarctica - BBC News

The A23a iceberg - more than twice the size of Greater London - is on the move, travelling along what is known as "iceberg alley" towards South Georgia.

www.bbc.co.uk

A23a, as it’s known, broke away from the Antarctic coastline way back in 1986, but it's only recently begun a big migration.

For more than 30 years, it was stuck rigidly in the bottom-muds of the Weddell Sea like a static "ice island". A 350m-deep keel had anchored it in place.

It took gradual melting until 2020 to allow the berg to re-float and start moving again, slowly at first, before currents and winds then swept it north towards warmer air and waters.

 

[gregmcc]

Very interesting article on tracking the iceberg and it's size.

 

[saor]

Was wondering how it survived so long & then...

3,800 sq km

Cool article & layout.

 

[The Trutherizer]

To think what we see above water is 10% of the mass.

Up close for perspective

Satellite Measures Thickness of World's Biggest Iceberg A23a Heading to Open Waters

Average thickness 280m.