The British Antarctic Survey reports that one of the biggest icebergs on record is now moving away from the Antarctic region, after being stuck for over thirty years.

In 1986, a portion of the Antarctic’s Filchner Ice Shelf, called A23a, broke off and became attached to the ocean floor in the Weddell Sea, where it has remained for a prolonged period of time.

The iceberg’s measurements are approximately 4,000 square kilometers (1,500 square miles), making it three times larger than New York City and more than twice the size of Greater London.

On Friday, Andrew Fleming, a specialist in remote sensing at the British Antarctic Survey, informed the BBC that the iceberg has been in motion for the last year and is now accelerating as it passes the northern end of the Antarctic Peninsula, aided by wind and ocean currents.

Fleming shared with the BBC that they inquired with some coworkers about the matter, questioning if there were any fluctuations in shelf water temperatures that may have caused it. However, the general agreement is that it was simply a natural occurrence.

“It had been immobilized since 1986, but eventually it would shrink enough to lose traction and begin to move,” he stated.

In 2020, Fleming reported observing movement of the iceberg. According to the British Antarctic Survey, the iceberg has since become dislodged and is now being carried by ocean currents towards South Georgia, a sub-Antarctic region.

Source: wral.com