World’s Largest Iceberg A23a Threatens to Drift Toward South Georgia

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

The world’s largest iceberg, A23a, is on the move again, sparking concerns as it drifts northward from Antarctica toward the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia.

Previously, the massive iceberg had been trapped for months, spinning around an undersea mountain. However, according to Andrew Meijers, a physical oceanographer at the British Antarctic Survey, A23a has now broken free and is being carried by prevailing ocean currents.

“It is presently in a meander of the current and not moving directly towards the island,” Meijers stated in a release. “But our understanding of the currents suggests that it is likely to again move towards the island soon.”

South Georgia’s government is closely monitoring the situation. Captain Simon Wallace, who commands the government vessel Pharos, highlighted the potential dangers posed by the iceberg. While A23a’s sheer size makes it easier to track, the real threat lies in the possibility of it breaking apart.

“If A23a breaks up, it could create thousands of smaller icebergs,” Wallace explained. “These become an issue because I don’t know where these are until I find them. All ice is very dangerous. The bigger it is, the easier it is to find and avoid. Smaller ice is much harder to detect but by no means less hazardous.”

Smaller icebergs could form dense patches that pose significant risks to navigation, Wallace noted. These fragments could also block bays and fjords around South Georgia, potentially impacting access for vessels and wildlife habitats.

As scientists and authorities keep a close watch, the iceberg’s journey continues to be a potential environmental and navigational challenge for the region.