Antarctica is home to numerous icebergs, but recently, one in particular has caught the attention of scientists. According to the British Antarctic Survey's November 2023**, the current world's largest iceberg, A23a, has finally started moving after being trapped at the bottom of the ocean for more than 30 years.
Just how big is Antarctica's iceberg A23a, and what does its newfound mobility mean for the climate crisis? We'll take a look at both of these questions below.
The Antarctic A23A iceberg is a huge iceberg. According to The Guardian, it has an area of about 1,500 square miles. In the long run, this is slightly larger than the U.S. state of Rhode Island, which has an area of 1,214 square miles, according to Rhode Island**.
Ted Scambos, a senior research scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder, told NPR that A23A weighs one trillion tons, which he said was "incomprehensible."
The BBC also reported that satellite measurements showed the total average thickness of the icebergs at just over 2920 feet. In short, the A23A is huge, which is not a good thing when it's moving.
What does the flow of A23A mean for the climate crisis?
A23a broke away from Antarctica's Filshiner Ice Shelf in August 1986 and is currently drifting beyond Antarctic waters along a path known as "Iceberg Lane," where it will eventually melt and disappear into the Southern Ocean, Down to Earth reported.
Antarctica is a huge land mass covered in ice, which causes sea levels to rise every year as the ice melts. Martin Siegert, professor and vice-chancellor of Earth Sciences at the University of Exeter, explained to Down-to-Earth magazine: "In the coming years, Antarctica will no longer act as a refrigerant for the planet and will start acting as a radiator, which is a real danger. ”
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Petri Taras echoed these concerns at COP28 and subsequently reiterated them in a WMO press release. Between 2016 and 2022 alone, "sea level rise accelerated, sea ice reached new lows, and ocean heat and acidification intensified".
How does iceberg A23a affect marine life?
Reuters reported that A23A could be stranded near South Georgia, which could cause problems for animals living in Antarctica.
Countless marine animals depend on the island and the nearby waters. Reuters explained that if A23A stands in their way, they won't be able to reach any of them, which could put multiple species at risk.
Ultimately, we need to act now to limit the risk that the climate will become increasingly unlivable for decades to come. Humanity must prioritize sustainable lifestyles and reduce carbon emissions to protect Antarctica's fragile ecosystems.