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Giant Iceberg Nearing Total Collapse
10 Jan
Summary
- A 40-year-old Antarctic iceberg, A-23A, is nearing complete disintegration.
- Once twice the size of Rhode Island, it has shrunk significantly.
- The iceberg's blue color and striations reveal its history of melting and glacial past.
An enormous iceberg, known as A-23A, which broke off from Antarctica 40 years ago, is now on the verge of complete disintegration. This colossal berg, initially twice the size of Rhode Island, has seen significant shrinkage, diminishing to 456 square miles. Its current location is the South Atlantic, situated between South America and South Georgia island.
The iceberg's visual characteristics, including a distinct blue color and visible striations, are providing scientists with insights into its long history. These features are believed to be remnants from its time as part of a glacier, enduring immense pressure and melting over centuries. NASA satellites have captured detailed images, revealing extensive melt pools and an apparent 'leak' due to the weight of accumulated meltwater.
Scientists predict that A-23A may not survive the current Southern Hemisphere summer, estimating its complete collapse within days or weeks. This 'megaberg' has had a long and eventful journey since detaching in 1986, spending over three decades grounded before breaking free in 2020 and embarking on a path of gradual fragmentation.
