The largest iceberg in the world finally collapses

Just months ago, the largest iceberg in the world weighing about trillion tons and covering the area of ​​nearly the size of the marina, Alaska. Now less than half of that – it disappears quickly.

In recent weeks, huge parts of ice have measured up to 250 square miles (400 square kilometers) of “Megaberg” known as the A23A. Small pieces float freely in the surrounding waters, many are still great enough to threaten ships.

The disintegration of the iceberg has reduced its total area to 683 square miles (1770 square kilometers), according to Agence France Basic Analysis of satellite images taken by the European Earth monitoring screen. It can disappear completely within weeks.

Andrew Megarez, a photographer of the physical oceans of the British survey in Antarctica, told AFP that the A23A “is somewhat disintegrated” as she was drifting to the north. “I would like to say he is on his way out … he is mainly rotting under it,” he said. “The water is very warm so that it cannot be preserved. It is constantly melting.”

End of the line

This could represent the end of the 40 -year -old A23A trip, which started when the ice separated on the ice shelf in the Antarctica in 1986, according to what he said American geological survey. It has been focused on the bottom of a sea and denotes more than 30 years before separation and start Slow drift north In 2020. Over the next four years, A23A followed the Antarctic Ring Stream on a path known as “Iceberg Alley” and then It became trapped in the cycle of the ocean Near the Southern Orange Islands in April 2024.

After finally liberated eight months later, the iceberg resumed its journey north. In March, that He ran to his land near the southern island of Georgia in the southern oceanWhich raises the fears that it can Large colonies are disrupted by penguins and seals. Fortunately, it was removed in May, toured all over the island and north again.

Since A23A faced huge waves and warmer water, it collapsed in the ocean. Megarers said that half of its size within months is amazing, but most of the icebergs do not make it far from the cruel water on the Antarctica. “This is really big, it lasted longer and went beyond others,” he said.

However, the A23A shrinks faster than the new ice can form. “I expect to continue in the coming weeks, and I expect it to be truly recognized within a few weeks,” Megarers said. It is not clear the amount of water that this maygapura contains at its peak, but the similar A68A size Dumper More than 1 trillion tons of fresh water in the ocean during her life.

Warning

Unlike the common belief, the melting of the icebergs – even the giants like the A68A and the A23A – do not raise the levels of the world sea surface. This is because they already float in the ocean. However, their rapid disappearance is a clear sign of global temperatures, which contribute to sea level rise by accelerating ice melting.

Modern research Estimates This ice cover in Antarctica can raise 11 -inch international sea levels (28 cm) by 2100, and perhaps more if we are bypassing some warming thresholds. However, there is still much unknown about the processes where sea level rises. Despite the uncertainty in future expectations, the disappearance of the Antarctic giant such as the A23A is a blatant reminder of the extent of the constitution of this critical area.