A68 iceberg on collision path with S Georgia

[Still Waters 53,637]

The world's biggest iceberg, known as A68a, is bearing down on the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia.

The Antarctic ice giant is a similar size to the South Atlantic island, and there's a strong possibility the berg could now ground and anchor itself offshore of the wildlife haven.

If that happens, it poses a grave threat to local penguins and seals.

The animals' normal foraging routes could be blocked, preventing them from feeding their young properly.

And it goes without saying that all creatures living on the seafloor would be crushed where A68a touched down - a disturbance that would take a very long time to reverse.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-54798031

[Eldorado 61,024]

The giant A-68A iceberg could strike land this month – wreaking havoc near the waters of the South Georgia Island.

Since its ‘birth’ in 2017, the iceberg has travelled thousands of kilometres from the Larsen C ice shelf, in Antarctica, and now lies around 120 km from South Georgia.

If it remains on its current path, the iceberg could ground in the shallow waters offshore – threatening wildlife, including penguins and seals.

2mins 23secs video from the European Space Agency:

 

[Eldorado 61,024]

Scientists are preparing for an urgent mission to the world’s biggest iceberg, which is on a collision course with the island of South Georgia in the southern Atlantic Ocean.

The A-68A iceberg, which is larger than Luxembourg, broke off from the Larsen C ice shelf in Antarctica in 2017 and has been drifting towards the island ever since.

UK Guardian

[Eldorado 61,024]

The European Space Agency (ESA) reported on December 18, 2020, that giant iceberg A-68A has now broken into two pieces. One piece is city-sized (about 12 miles or 18 km long), and the other is much bigger (about 80 miles, or 135 km, long).

Earth Sky

[and then 48,047]

I bet the sound of that thing when it calved was tremendous!  I once had a chance to hear some of them off Alaska and the only thing I can compare it to is the sound of two railcars slamming together and coupling.  

[Wes83 269]

We don’t have penguins and seals in South Georgia!! Just gators and such 

Thats horrible 

[Still Waters 53,637]

Latest:

Robots deployed at A68A mega-iceberg remnants

UK scientists have arrived at the remains of what was once the biggest iceberg in the world to investigate their impacts on the environment.

A68A, which for a long time had an area equal to a small country, gradually fragmented after drifting away from Antarctica into the South Atlantic.

The RSS James Cook approached the biggest remaining segment on Sunday.

It deployed a robotic glider that will measure seawater salinity, temperature and chlorophyll close to the ice.

This is information that will tell the scientists how the still significant blocks could be affecting local marine life.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56072220

[pallidin 11,076]

Are these iceberg calves hazardous to any humans in their path?

[susieice 40,649]

It sounds like they expect the bergs to ground on the continental shelf surrounding the island. I can't see the images. I don't know why. They don't come up for me.

https://earther.gizmodo.com/striking-3d-satellite-images-show-shattered-iceberg-a68-1846008535

[susieice 40,649]

 

[Jon the frog 2,574]

Time to test some navy torpedos...

[susieice 40,649]

Another iceberg almost the size of London was confirmed today as breaking off from the Brunt Ice Shelf and into the Wendell Sea. The area is being monitored by satellite to see if anymore breaks off. It broke off in the same quadrant as the A68 and will likely be designated as A74. It isn't quite as big as A68 but it's really large.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-47692895

Edited February 27 by susieice

[susieice 40,649]

Here's another article. Scientists say this is not the result of climate change but a natural calving for the area.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/2/26/2018272/-The-Brunt-ice-shelf-calved-an-iceberg-that-is-one-mile-thick-and-the-size-of-London

Edited February 27 by susieice