Iceberg A23a: The giant is melting away – how many weeks are left?

Iceberg A23a: The giant is melting away – how many weeks are left?

The once largest iceberg in the world, known as A23a, is about to break apart spectacularly. With an original area of ​​around 4,000 square kilometers, A23a was more than twice the size of Greater London and three times the size of New York City. Today its size is only about 1,700 square kilometers, as it has split into several large parts. Current observations show that the iceberg is rapidly dissolving in warmer water that has reached temperatures above freezing. Vienna.at reports that A23a will soon disintegrate, making the remaining pieces untraceable.

The iceberg, which broke off from the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in Antarctica in 1986, was a constant companion in Antarctic waters for almost four decades. After more than three decades of being stuck, A23a began to drift in 2020. Experts from the British Antarctic Survey had noticed the iceberg's first movement at this point. Andrew Fleming, a remote sensing specialist, confirmed that the iceberg was recently drifting rapidly towards subantarctic South Georgia. The Hindu adds that the iceberg is now reaching unusual speeds.

The fate of A23a

The British Antarctic Service is closely monitoring A23a. Previous satellite images documented the drastic changes in recent months. At last count, the iceberg fragments weighed almost a trillion tons. In the last few weeks, chunks around 400 square kilometers in size have broken off from the main mass. Smaller pieces now pose a potential threat to nearby ships. The rate of iceberg melting is being accelerated by global warming, with scientists concerned about the impact of these changes on marine ecosystems. The influx of cold water resulting from the melting of the iceberg could change the living conditions for certain organisms on the seafloor.

According to the experts at Deutschlandfunk A23a is expected to become barely detectable in the coming weeks. This rapid melting is consistent with predicted concerns about the effects of climate change that are becoming increasingly apparent. Researchers point out that calving of icebergs is a natural process, but in the current situation it is increasing rapidly due to rising temperatures. Experts estimate that melting glaciers in Antarctica could cause sea levels to rise by up to two meters.

The changes A23a is undergoing are not only an indication of the dramatic climate changes affecting the Earth, but also a clear indication of the possible future challenges facing coastal regions worldwide.