Eisberg A23A: The giant melts - how many weeks stay?

Eisberg A23A: The giant melts - how many weeks stay?

The once largest iceberg in the world, known as A23A, is facing its spectacular destruction. With an original area of ​​around 4,000 square kilometers, A23A was more than twice as large as Greater London and three times as large as New York City. Today, its size is only about 1,700 square kilometers because it has split into several large parts. Current observations show that the iceberg quickly dissolves in warm water that has reached the temperatures above freezing. Vienna.at reports that A23a will soon decay so that the remaining parts can no longer be pursued.

The iceberg, which broke off from Filchner-Ronne-Schelfeis in the Antarctic in 1986, was a constant companion in the waters of the Antarctic for almost four decades. After more than three decades in which he was stuck, A23A 2020 began to drift. Experts of the British Antarctic Survey noticed the first movement of the iceberg at that time. Andrew Fleming, a specialist for remote sensing, confirmed that the Eisberg recently drifted quickly towards subantarctic South Georgia. The Hindu adds that the iceberg now reaches unusual speeds.

The fate of A23a

The British Antarctic service is closely observed A23A. Former satellite images have documented the drastic changes in the past few months. Finally, the iceberg fragments weighed almost a trillion tons. Around 400 square kilometers have broken down from the main mass in the past few weeks. Smaller parts are now a potential risk to ships nearby. The glaring rate of the iceberg is accelerated by global warming, whereby the scientists are concerned about the effects of these changes on the sea ecosystems. The inflow of cold water that arises from the melting of the iceberg could change the living conditions for certain organisms in the sea floor.

According to the experts from Germany radio A23A will hardly be recognized in the coming weeks. This fast melt is in line with predicted concerns about the effects of climate change that are becoming increasingly obvious. Researchers point out that the calves of icebergs are a natural process, but in the current situation due to the increasing temperatures, it accepts rapidly. Experts estimate that melting the glaciers in the Antarctic could lead to an increase in sea level of up to two meters.

The changes that go through A23A are not only an indication of the dramatic climate changes that affect the earth, but also a clear reference to the possible future challenges with which coastal regions are confronted worldwide.