The A76a iceberg is a whopping 135km long and 25km wide, making it the biggest floating iceberg in the world! It’s so huge that it’s almost as big as the entire county of Cornwall. The A76a iceberg is shaped like a massive ironing board and is one of three parts that broke away from the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in May 2021.
Scientists are concerned about these icebergs’ impact on the local wildlife and fishing industries. The A76a iceberg, in particular, is heading towards South Georgia, and there are fears that it could cause damage if it runs aground.
The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) recently shared aerial images of the A81 iceberg, which broke away from the Brunt Ice Shelf in late January. This iceberg measures 1,550 square kilometers, almost the same size as Greater London. It’s currently floating about 15km away from its point of origin. The Brunt Ice Shelf is home to the BAS Halley Research Station and is closely monitored due to its significance to our planet.
Concerns With These Icebergs
Scientists are worried about the A76a iceberg’s potential impact on the ocean ecosystem and fishing industry. If the iceberg runs aground on the shallow seabed en route to South Georgia, it could destroy the fauna on the seabed floor and disrupt the ocean currents. In addition, the iceberg breaking down into smaller chunks poses a risk to fishing vessels.
Professor Geraint Tarling, who heads the ecosystems team at BAS, explains that this massive iceberg will significantly impact the ocean ecosystems that support the rich diversity of marine wildlife found in the Antarctic region. While melting icebergs can release nutrients that benefit microscopic plants, large-scale melting also releases lots of fresh water, decreasing salinity levels and making the waters “unsuitable” for many phytoplankton. This could affect other parts of the food web, including fish, birds, and whales.
Dr. Mark Belchier, from the government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, expresses major concern about the iceberg’s impact on vessels operating in the region as it begins to break up. It’s a worrying situation requiring close attention and action to prevent further damage.
According to the BAS, the occurrence of icebergs near South Georgia is fairly regular. For example, In 2021, the A68A iceberg floated toward the island’s southern shelf. However, it quickly melted as it got closer to South Georgia. This resulted in the release of a whopping 153 billion tonnes of freshwater.
Scientists track iceberg the size of London https://t.co/9gpQoVQAs6
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) March 13, 2023
