The world’s largest iceberg, A23a, is still on the move after being “trapped” for months near an undersea mountain. There are concerns that it may now be heading north towards the island of South Georgia, reports CNN.
Potential Dangers
The iceberg, designated A23a, was previously trapped in a circular motion around an undersea mountain. However, it is now moving with the prevailing current towards South Georgia, a British Overseas Territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean.
Andrew Meijers, a physical oceanographer at the British Antarctic Survey, stated that while the iceberg is currently meandering, it is likely to move closer to the island soon.
Simon Wallace, a sea captain from the South Georgia government vessel Pharos, expressed concerns about the potential for A23a to break up into numerous smaller icebergs. He emphasized that smaller icebergs are more difficult to detect and pose a significant navigational hazard.
Wallace highlighted the potential dangers of these smaller icebergs, which can gather in large numbers and obstruct access to bays and fjords around South Georgia, impacting local operations and wildlife.
Maintaining Structure
After remaining grounded on the Antarctic seafloor for over 30 years, the iceberg recently broke free and began drifting with ocean currents. Scientists initially predicted that A23a would break up and melt as it moved towards warmer waters around South Georgia. However, recent observations suggest that the iceberg has maintained its structure.
The potential impact on South Georgia depends on the iceberg’s trajectory. If it runs onto the continental shelf, it could impede access to feeding grounds for wildlife, such as seals and penguins.
Mark Belchier, director of fisheries and environment for the government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, acknowledged the potential impacts on shipping and fishing activities while emphasizing that these are likely to be localized and transient.
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are renowned for their rich biodiversity and are home to one of the world’s largest Marine Protected Areas.
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Source: CNN
