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Corner and caves Giant Iceberg Coral Princess Antarctica Photograph: (amanderson2/flickr.com)
A gigantic iceberg, A23a, is moving north from Antarctica, and scientists fear it could impact South Georgia, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic. This ice piece covers 3,672 square kilometers (1,418 square miles)—twice the size of London—and is the world’s largest iceberg.
After being stuck on the Antarctic seafloor for over 30 years, A23a broke free in December 2024. Now, as it drifts into warmer waters, experts worry that if it gets stuck near South Georgia, it could block feeding areas for seals, penguins, and seabirds, and create dangerous conditions for shipping.
Where did gigantic iceberg come from?
A23a was once part of Antarctica’s Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, but in 1986, it broke off, or “calved,” into the Weddell Sea. However, it was so massive that it became grounded on the seafloor and remained there for decades.
Over the years, the iceberg gradually lost ice, becoming small enough to float freely. In December 2024, ocean currents pulled it out of its position, setting it on a new journey. Since then, it has been drifting northward and could now be headed for South Georgia.
Why is this a problem?
South Georgia is a crucial breeding ground for wildlife, including millions of king penguins, elephant seals, and fur seals. If A23a gets stuck on the island’s shallow seabed, it could block access to their feeding areas, which would be disastrous for these animals.
Andrew Meijers, an oceanographer from the British Antarctic Survey, explains the danger:
“If this happens, it could seriously impact access to feeding grounds for wildlife—mostly seals and penguins—that breed on the island.”
A similar event occurred in 2004, when a huge iceberg, A38, grounded near South Georgia, causing mass deaths of penguin chicks and seal pups, as their parents couldn’t reach food.
Besides harming wildlife, A23a could become a hazard for ships and fishing vessels in the region.
Simon Wallace, a sea captain from South Georgia, warned about the risks:
“Icebergs are inherently dangerous. Larger ones are easier to track and avoid, but smaller fragments are harder to detect and can be just as hazardous.”
If A23a breaks into smaller icebergs, these pieces could block harbors, fill fjords, and create dangerous navigation conditions.
Could it get stuck again?
Scientists are closely watching A23a using satellites and ocean models to predict its path. Some believe it may drift into the open ocean and melt, while others think it could run aground on South Georgia’s continental shelf, like iceberg A38 in 2004.
If it gets stuck, it could remain there for years, breaking apart slowly and affecting local ecosystems.
Experts say A23a calved from Antarctica in 1986, before noticeable climate change effects. However, they warn that climate change is accelerating ice loss in Antarctica, making large icebergs more common.
Warming ocean around Antarctica is weakening ice shelves, leading to more frequent break-offs. Scientists fear that more massive icebergs like A23a will form in the coming decades, posing challenges for marine ecosystems, global sea levels, and shipping routes.
What happens next?
A23a is still hundreds of kilometers from South Georgia, and its future is uncertain. If ocean currents push it north, it may avoid the island and melt in the warmer Atlantic waters. But if it gets trapped on the seabed, it could harm wildlife and human activities in the region.
Scientists will continue to monitor its movements closely, watching to see whether the world’s largest iceberg will pass harmlessly or become a long-term problem for South Georgia’s fragile ecosystem.
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