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A23a

All articles tagged with #a23a

science1 month ago•1 min saved

Antarctic Megaberg A23a Nears Complete Breakup in Warmer Atlantic

A Copernicus Sentinel-2 image shows A23a, once the world’s largest iceberg that calved from the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in 1986, continuing to disintegrate as it drifts into warmer South Atlantic waters. By December 2025 it lies about 150 km northwest of South Georgia, has shed roughly three-quarters of its surface to about 1,000 sq km, and meltwater ponds indicate rapid breakup as it heads toward further disintegration in warmer seas.

via European Space Agency|

#a23a #antarctica #iceberg

planet-earth1 month ago•56 min saved

Antarctica’s A23a Iceberg Fades into Blue Patches as Four-Decade Voyage Ends

Satellite imagery shows A23a, once the world’s largest iceberg, shrinking and turning into a bright blue, patchy “blue mush” as it disintegrates after roughly 40 years at sea. Born from Antarctica’s Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in 1986, it became stuck on the seafloor, broke away in 2020, drifted through currents toward South Georgia, and then broke apart in 2024–2025. The blue striations are melt ponds forming in cracks and ponds on the surface, a sign of rapid disintegration that may already be fading in newer photos; with A23a waning, D15A is cited as the current largest iceberg.

via Live Science|

#a23a #antarctica #blue-mush

science1 month ago•3 min saved

Iconic Blue Iceberg Nears Disintegration, NASA Reports

NASA reports that the massive Antarctic iceberg A23a has turned blue due to meltwater and is nearing complete disintegration, likely within weeks, as it drifts into warmer waters and shows signs of structural failure.

via CBS News|

#a23a #climate-change #iceberg

science5 months ago•4 min saved

Ancient Massive Antarctic Iceberg Disintegrates After Four Decades

The world's largest and oldest iceberg, A23a, is breaking apart and melting in the South Atlantic Ocean after nearly 40 years, providing scientists with valuable insights into iceberg life cycles and environmental impacts, though its demise is a normal part of natural processes rather than climate change.

via NPR|

#a23a #antarctica #climate-change

science5 months ago•3 min saved

Major Antarctic Iceberg A23a Disintegrates After 40 Years

The iceberg A23a, once the world's largest, has lost about 80% of its mass since May due to rapid disintegration caused by ocean currents and climate change, and is now the second-largest iceberg in the world, with further breakup expected.

via Live Science|

#a23a #antarctica #climate-change

nature2 years ago•2 min saved

"Trillion-Tonne Iceberg A23a Spins in Spectacular 360° Twirl as it Drifts from Antarctica"

The world's largest iceberg, A23a, has been observed doing a 360° spin off the coast of Antarctica as it makes its way through "Iceberg Alley". Measuring 400 meters in height and covering an area of 4,000 square kilometers, the iceberg was captured twirling by NASA satellites. Scientists are studying its impact on the polar region's ecosystem and carbon balance, collecting seawater samples to understand its influence. A23a was calved in 1986 and recently became mobile after being grounded for 40 years, and it briefly lost its title as the largest iceberg in 2021.

via IFLScience|

#a23a #antarctica #british-antarctic-survey

environment2 years ago•4 min saved

"Trillion-tonne Iceberg A23a Completes Perfect Spin in Antarctica"

The world's largest iceberg, A23a, has completed a pirouette as it moves towards the Southern Ocean, spinning more than 360 degrees just north of the Antarctic Peninsula. The iceberg, about the size of Greater London, is gradually eroding and melting due to warmer waters as it travels north at a rate of about 30 miles per day. A23a, which had been grounded for 30 years, is being swept along 'iceberg alley' and is currently the largest iceberg in the world, but it is expected to eventually fragment. If it reaches South Georgia, it could potentially disrupt wildlife feeding routines.

via Daily Mail|

#a23a #british-antarctic-survey #environment

science2 years ago•2 min saved

"Trillion-tonne Iceberg A23a Breaks Free and Spins, Alarming Scientists"

The trillion-tonne iceberg A23a, the world's largest, has completed a spin near the Antarctic Peninsula and is expected to be swept away into the Southern Ocean soon. A23a, which broke off from the Antarctic coast in 1986, has been slowly drifting northward and is now poised to enter the powerful Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Recent images show the iceberg wasting at its edges, with waves cutting into its walls and forming smaller "bergy bits" and "growlers" as it journeys into rougher and warmer waters.

via BBC.com|

#a23a #antarctica #british-antarctic-survey

earth-and-environment2 years ago•1 min saved

"Rapid Erosion: New Animation Reveals Earth's Largest Iceberg's Last Voyage"

Scientists at British Antarctic Survey are using satellite images to track the colossal iceberg A23a as it moves north out of the Weddell Sea, with a new animation showing its trajectory alongside previous large icebergs A68 and A76a. The iceberg, which calved from the Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986, was recently observed by scientists aboard RRS Sir David Attenborough, who collected seawater samples from the area. The animation has been compiled from Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite imagery, providing valuable insights into the iceberg's movement.

via Phys.org|

#a23a #british-antarctic-survey #earth-and-environment

environment2 years ago•2 min saved

"Massive A23a Iceberg Approaches Open Waters, Scientists Reveal Unprecedented Size"

The world's largest iceberg, A23a, weighs nearly 1 trillion tons and has an area three times the size of New York City, according to data from the European Space Agency. A23a broke off from Antarctica in 1986 and recently became dislodged, drifting towards the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. Its movement will impact ocean currents and the ocean floor. Icebergs like A23a play a crucial role in mixing seawater, bringing nutrients to the surface and fertilizing the ocean.

via CBS News|

#a23a #antarctica #climate-change

environment2 years ago•2 min saved

"Massive Iceberg Breaks Free: Astonishing Photos and Encounters with the World's Largest Drifting Iceberg"

The British Antarctic Survey has released a video showcasing the massive iceberg known as A23a, which is 40 miles wide and weighs 1 trillion tons. After being grounded for decades, the iceberg has started moving again across the polar regions of Antarctica's open waters. It broke off from the Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986 and has been slowly picking up speed since 2020. The iceberg will likely be swept along by the current in the South Atlantic as it slowly melts away.

via Fox Weather |

#a23a #antarctica #british-antarctic-survey