The large iceberg that threatened to cause an ecological disaster on an island in the South Atlantic Ocean has broken to pieces.
Researchers feared that the ice floe – which was initially the size of the provinces of Noord-Holland and Utrecht combined – could cause serious problems for the animal population of the island of South Georgia. Many seals and penguins live there.
The iceberg, called A68a by scientists, broke off from Antarctica in 2017. Satellite images showed the mountain descending on South Georgia. With an area of about 4000 square kilometers, the island is about the same size as the iceberg was.
Seals and penguins in danger
The fear was that the large ice floe would collide with the island, making it more difficult for the penguins and seals to hunt and care for their young. “When they have to make a big detour, they cannot get back to their young in time, who will starve to death,” said a British Antarctic Survey researcher. Marine life would also be seriously disrupted.
Something like that had happened before. In 2004, iceberg A38 collided with the same island. After that, researchers found many dead young seals and penguins.
In pieces
The danger of another disaster has now passed. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), the A68a changed direction in December, with a large section breaking off. More fractures followed in 2021. The different ice floes appear to be drifting apart, making it unlikely that the smaller ice floes will pose a further threat to the island, according to ESA.
This researcher shares the satellite images taken:
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