A massive iceberg, dubbed A81, has broken free from the Brunt Ice Shelf of Antarctica. Iceberg A76A is also moving slowly. Both are reportedly drifting to areas that may impact fishing, wildlife, and shipping.
Massive Iceberg as Big as Greater London
The Daily Mail reports that British specialists are monitoring two of the biggest icebergs in the world, which include one that is as big as Greater London and one that is as big as Cornwall. Specialists are concerned that these frozen giants may move toward regions where wildlife, fishing, and shipping could be affected.
Iceberg AI broke off Antarctica's Brunt Ice Shelf last January. Now, it has been captured aerially for the first time. Science Alert reports that this took place around a decade after cracks started appearing. Now, the behemoth joins other fragments floating over the Weddell Sea.
As per Science Alert, this split is the second largest that has been recorded in two years. Though iceberg calving naturally takes place in such frozen areas, this may still pose risks to the surrounding environment.
Dr. Oliver Marsh, a glaciologist who has returned from the Halley Research Station of the BAS (British Antarctic Survey), mentioned that this calving was something that they knew would happen eventually. Ever since the widening of Chasm-1 was observed in 2012, the science and operations groups of BAS have expected the calving to take place.
BAS has been checking Antarctica's Brunt Ice Shelf and the chasms across it for more than 10 years.
The aerial footage of the iceberg taken by the British Antarctic Survey reveals how big the giant is. However, this is only a fraction of the total mass of the iceberg. The majority of its bulk extends hundreds of meters.
The shots also reveal the iceberg's dynamic nature and that it is engulfed by other icebergs that are smaller.
BAS has not relocated its research station to prevent being drifted by the frozen giant. The team continues to check on A81 and other icebergs, such as A76a, to manage the threats they may bring. While A81 may follow the coastal current of Antarctica, A76a is moving toward certain islands.
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How Does This Affect Local Ecology, Shipping, People?
Science Alert notes that Geraint Tarling, an ecologist, mentions that icebergs this big may impact marine ecosystems that foster marine wildlife diversity in this Antarctic area. Effects could be negative or positive.
Mark Belchier, the South Georgia government's director of fisheries and environment, mentions that it seems that A76a may move west of South Georgia. A huge concern is for the vessels moving in the region.
In both Shag Rocks and South Georgia, the iceberg may bring risks for people and wildlife.
Tarling mentions that if A76a moves along the Shag Rocks trajectory, gouging with the seabed there could lead to great damages for the communities of seabeds in the area. This includes nurseries for important fish stocks.
Moreover, icebergs in South Georgia may also pose risks to vessels.
It may take decades for huge icebergs like these to melt down and disappear. Hence, they may remain threats for quite a long time.
The positive side of the melting is that it will expel various nutrients that could help phytoplankton and other microscopic plants. The downside, however, is that the melting would dump freshwater into the ocean, which, in turn, would reduce the levels of salinity and make the oceans unsuitable for many zooplankton and phytoplankton. Such effects could cascade up to seals, birds, fish, and whales.
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