In pics | A23a 'ice island': Massive arches and caves seen in world’s largest iceberg as it erodes

The world’s largest iceberg also known as A23a, formerly a part of Antarctica,&nbsp;is currently in the midst of floating away from the continent, and has been in the news for the past couple of months

This time around photographers aboard a vessel run by the company EYOS Expeditions, on Sunday (Jan 14) managed to capture the iceberg’s erosion which has led to the sculpting of dramatic features including massive arches and caves.

<h2>‘Constant state of erosion’</h2>

“We saw waves, a good 3m or 4m high, smashing into the berg,” expedition leader Ian Strachan told BBC.&nbsp;

He added, “These were creating cascades of ice – a constant state of erosion.”&nbsp;

The images also show deep surface cracks and hollowed-out caves as the world’s largest iceberg is slowly eroding due to the milder air and warmer ocean temperatures as it moves away from the White Continent.&nbsp;

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(Photo credit:&nbsp;EYOS Expeditions/Ian Strachan)

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(Photo credit:&nbsp;EYOS Expeditions/Richard Sidey)

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(Photo credit:&nbsp;Rob Suisted/naturespic.com)

The expedition team which is near the world’s largest iceberg, likely in the final months of its existence,&nbsp;&nbsp;witnessed chunks of the iceberg break off into the sea, a company spokesman told CNN.

<h2>About A23a’s drift</h2>

A23a is almost 4,000 sq km in area – more than twice the size of Greater London and over three times the size of Los Angeles – and 400 metres thick.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;A23a: World's biggest Iceberg to cross Northern tip of Antarctic peninsula

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When it split from Antarctica in 1986, it had a Soviet research base on it prompting them to send an expedition to the iceberg thinking they were about to lose the base and all the equipment.

However, A23a, after detaching itself from Antarctica, got ‘grounded’ in the Weddell Sea and after four decades or so&nbsp;began moving again last year.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/worlds-largest-iceberg-bigger-than-greater-london-is-leaving-antarctica-662357">World's largest iceberg, bigger than Greater London, is moving away from Antarctica</a>

The movement of A23a has quickened in recent months due to winds and currents. It is predicted that it’ll stop towards the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean near an island named South Georgia.

(With inputs from agencies)

The world’s largest iceberg also known as A23a, formerly a part of Antarctica, is currently in the midst of floating away from the continent, and has been in the news for the past couple of months This time around photographers aboard a vessel run by the company EYOS Expeditions, on Sunday (Jan 14) managed to capture the iceberg’s erosion which has led to the sculpting of dramatic features including massive arches and caves.

The world’s largest iceberg also known as A23a, formerly a part of Antarctica, is currently in the midst of floating away from the continent, and has been in the news for the past couple of months This time around photographers aboard a vessel run by the company EYOS Expeditions, on Sunday (Jan 14) managed to capture the iceberg’s erosion which has led to the sculpting of dramatic features including massive arches and caves. ‘Constant state of erosion’ “We saw waves, a good 3m or 4m high, smashing into the berg,” expedition leader Ian Strachan told BBC. He added, “These were creating cascades of ice – a constant state of erosion.” The images also show deep surface cracks and hollowed-out caves as the world’s largest iceberg is slowly eroding due to the milder air and warmer ocean temperatures as it moves away from the White Continent. (Photo credit: EYOS Expeditions/Ian Strachan) (Photo credit: EYOS Expeditions/Richard Sidey) (Photo credit: Rob Suisted/naturespic.com) The expedition team which is near the world’s largest iceberg, likely in the final months of its existence, witnessed chunks of the iceberg break off into the sea, a company spokesman told CNN. About A23a’s drift A23a is almost 4,000 sq km in area – more than twice the size of Greater London and over three times the size of Los Angeles – and 400 metres thick. WATCH | A23a: World's biggest Iceberg to cross Northern tip of Antarctic peninsula When it split from Antarctica in 1986, it had a Soviet research base on it prompting them to send an expedition to the iceberg thinking they were about to lose the base and all the equipment. However, A23a, after detaching itself from Antarctica, got ‘grounded’ in the Weddell Sea and after four decades or so began moving again last year. ALSO READ | World's largest iceberg, bigger than Greater London, is moving away from Antarctica The movement of A23a has quickened in recent months due to winds and currents. It is predicted that it’ll stop towards the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean near an island named South Georgia. (With inputs from agencies)

A23a: Images show massive arches and caves in world’s largest iceberg as it erodes

Scientists recently got a chance to observe the world's largest iceberg, which split from the Antarctic coastline in 1986. The mega iceberg is about three times the size of New York City and slightly smaller than Kangaroo Island.&nbsp;

It was grounded in the Weddell Sea, but the British Antarctic Survey confirmed last week by using satellite imagery that the iceberg was no longer stuck. It was on the move.&nbsp;

The images showed that the iceberg was drifting into an "iceberg alley" and moving towards the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia.&nbsp;

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The British Antarctic Survey shared a video on Monday (Dec 4) stating that the RRS Sir David Attenborough, which is on its way to Antarctica for its first scientific mission, passed the iceberg on Friday.&nbsp;

The video shared by BAS also included drone footage that showed a pod of orcas swimming next to the massive iceberg.&nbsp;

Scientists aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough collected samples of seawater around the A23a mega iceberg.&nbsp;

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Watch:&nbsp;Santa's Finland 'Post Office' cabin is now on Airbnb&nbsp;

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<h2>'It is incredibly lucky...'</h2>

Dr Andrew Meijers, Chief Scientist aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough and Polar Oceans Science Leader at British Antarctic Survey (BAS), said in a statement: "It is incredibly lucky that the iceberg's route out of the Weddell Sea sat directly across our planned path, and that we had the right team aboard to take advantage of this opportunity."&nbsp;

Scientists have said that it's quite rare to see an iceberg of this size on the move, and they added that they will be watching its trajectory closely.&nbsp;

Meijers added, "We're fortunate that navigating A23a hasn't had an impact on the tight timings for our science mission, and it is amazing to see this huge berg in person – it stretches as far as the eye can see."&nbsp;

As quoted by The Guardian, Laura Taylor, who is a biogeochemist, said, "We know that these giant icebergs can provide nutrients to the waters they pass through, creating thriving ecosystems in otherwise less productive areas."&nbsp;

Taylor, who was part of the team of scientists who took samples, added, "What we don't know is what difference particular icebergs, their scale and their origins can make to that process."&nbsp;

Scientists believe that the survey of these samples will help the scientists to determine how the iceberg is influencing the carbon levels in the water.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Scientists recently got a chance to observe the world's largest iceberg, which split from the Antarctic coastline in 1986. The mega iceberg is about three times the size of New York City and slightly smaller than Kangaroo Island.

Scientists recently got a chance to observe the world's largest iceberg, which split from the Antarctic coastline in 1986. The mega iceberg is about three times the size of New York City and slightly smaller than Kangaroo Island. It was grounded in the Weddell Sea, but the British Antarctic Survey confirmed last week by using satellite imagery that the iceberg was no longer stuck. It was on the move. The images showed that the iceberg was drifting into an "iceberg alley" and moving towards the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. Also read: India's per capita greenhouse gas emissions less than half of global average, report says The British Antarctic Survey shared a video on Monday (Dec 4) stating that the RRS Sir David Attenborough, which is on its way to Antarctica for its first scientific mission, passed the iceberg on Friday. The video shared by BAS also included drone footage that showed a pod of orcas swimming next to the massive iceberg. Scientists aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough collected samples of seawater around the A23a mega iceberg. Also read: Researchers discover giant underwater mountain, twice as big as world’s tallest building Watch: Santa's Finland 'Post Office' cabin is now on Airbnb × 'It is incredibly lucky...' Dr Andrew Meijers, Chief Scientist aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough and Polar Oceans Science Leader at British Antarctic Survey (BAS), said in a statement: "It is incredibly lucky that the iceberg's route out of the Weddell Sea sat directly across our planned path, and that we had the right team aboard to take advantage of this opportunity." Scientists have said that it's quite rare to see an iceberg of this size on the move, and they added that they will be watching its trajectory closely. Meijers added, "We're fortunate that navigating A23a hasn't had an impact on the tight timings for our science mission, and it is amazing to see this huge berg in person – it stretches as far as the eye can see." As quoted by The Guardian, Laura Taylor, who is a biogeochemist, said, "We know that these giant icebergs can provide nutrients to the waters they pass through, creating thriving ecosystems in otherwise less productive areas." Taylor, who was part of the team of scientists who took samples, added, "What we don't know is what difference particular icebergs, their scale and their origins can make to that process." Scientists believe that the survey of these samples will help the scientists to determine how the iceberg is influencing the carbon levels in the water. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists got 'incredibly lucky' to observe and take samples from mega iceberg on the move

World's largest iceberg, formerly part of Antarctica, is moving away from the continent and has had scientists around the world focus their gaze on it. The iceberg, named A23a, had detached itself from the Antarctic shore in 1986 but had grounded itself to become a sort of an 'ice island'. But now, its movement may soon take it beyond Antarctic waters.

A23a is almost 4,000 sq km in area. This makes it more than twice the size of Greater London. When it split from Antarctica in 1986, it had a Soviet research base on it. The Soviets quickly sent an expedition to the iceberg thinking they were about to lose the base and all the equipment.

But A23a, after detaching itself from Antarctica, got 'grounded' in the Weddell Sea. But after 40 years of being in place, it is moving again.

"I asked a couple of colleagues about this, wondering if there was any possible change in shelf water temperatures that might have provoked it, but the consensus is the time had just come," said Dr Andrew Fleming, a remote sensing expert from the British Antarctic Survey.

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"It was grounded since 1986 but eventually it was going to decrease (in size) sufficiently to lose grip and start moving. I spotted first movement back in 2020."

Fleming was quoted by BBC.

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The movement of A23a has quickened in recent months due to winds and currents. It is being predicted that it'll get tossed towards southern part of the Atlantic Ocean near an island named South Georgia. The island is home to millions of seals, penguins and other birds. There is fear that if A23a moves near South Georgia Island, it may interfere with the habitat of wild animals and birds there and may even affect their food source. But these are speculations at the moment.

BBC has quoted experts to say that the detachment of the iceberg and its movement away from Antarctica may not exactly be a fallout of climate change. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

World's largest iceberg, formerly part of Antarctica, is moving away from the continent and has had scientists around the world focus their gaze on it. The iceberg, named A23a, had detached itself from the Antarctic shore in 1986 but had grounded itself to become a sort of an 'ice island'.

World's largest iceberg, formerly part of Antarctica, is moving away from the continent and has had scientists around the world focus their gaze on it. The iceberg, named A23a, had detached itself from the Antarctic shore in 1986 but had grounded itself to become a sort of an 'ice island'. But now, its movement may soon take it beyond Antarctic waters. A23a is almost 4,000 sq km in area. This makes it more than twice the size of Greater London. When it split from Antarctica in 1986, it had a Soviet research base on it. The Soviets quickly sent an expedition to the iceberg thinking they were about to lose the base and all the equipment. But A23a, after detaching itself from Antarctica, got 'grounded' in the Weddell Sea. But after 40 years of being in place, it is moving again. "I asked a couple of colleagues about this, wondering if there was any possible change in shelf water temperatures that might have provoked it, but the consensus is the time had just come," said Dr Andrew Fleming, a remote sensing expert from the British Antarctic Survey. Also Read | Blue whales return to Indian Ocean region decades after being wiped out due to whaling: Study "It was grounded since 1986 but eventually it was going to decrease (in size) sufficiently to lose grip and start moving. I spotted first movement back in 2020." Fleming was quoted by BBC. Also Read | Artificial Intelligence could aid humanity's effort to free oceans from plastic, research shows The movement of A23a has quickened in recent months due to winds and currents. It is being predicted that it'll get tossed towards southern part of the Atlantic Ocean near an island named South Georgia. The island is home to millions of seals, penguins and other birds. There is fear that if A23a moves near South Georgia Island, it may interfere with the habitat of wild animals and birds there and may even affect their food source. But these are speculations at the moment. BBC has quoted experts to say that the detachment of the iceberg and its movement away from Antarctica may not exactly be a fallout of climate change. (With inputs from agencies)

World's largest iceberg, bigger than Greater London, is moving away from Antarctica

The world's biggest iceberg called as A23a which is twice the size of greater London is now about to spill beyond Antarctic waters. How will the iceberg's passing through the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula? What impact could it produce? Let's find out.

World's largest iceberg A23a could cause problems for fauna in South Georgia Island

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