A colossal iceberg, measuring over 30 kilometers in diameter, with a significant portion submerged underwater, has recently detached from the Antarctic ice sheet. The visible portion of this iceberg rises an impressive 40 meters above the ocean surface.
Initially calving from the Antarctic ice shelf in 1986, this iceberg has only now emerged into open waters. Oceanographer Andrew Meijers predicts that within the next 2-4 weeks, ocean currents will carry it towards South Georgia, a region characterized by shallower waters.
The iceberg is approximately 1,000 kilometers away from South Georgia, which lies slightly south of the southern tip of Argentina. This area is teeming with life, hosting millions of penguins and seals, as it is currently summer and the breeding season.
If the iceberg becomes lodged in South Georgia, it may obstruct access to food sources for local wildlife. This situation could force animals to swim further, demanding more energy and potentially leading to increased mortality rates among the young. Similar scenarios have occurred in the past.
British scientists have observed a significant acceleration in the natural process of icebergs calving from the Antarctic ice dome over recent decades, resulting in a higher frequency of these events in the Southern Ocean.