The A23a iceberg in Antarctica, after floating for more than 40 years, is now undergoing decomposition in warm waters. This was reported by The Guardian.
According to reports, the iceberg may disappear completely in the coming weeks. Previously known as the "mega iceberg," it weighed around a single trillion tons. Now the area of the iceberg has decreased by half to 1,770 square kilometers. Images from the European Union's Copernicus space program clearly show that its surface is 60 km wide.
In recent weeks, huge fragments of 400 square kilometers have separated from the iceberg. According to Andrew Majers, an oceanographer at the British Antarctic Research Centre, the iceberg is rapidly breaking apart as it moves north, a process observed daily.
The A23a first separated from the Antarctic shelf in 1986, but remained frozen on the bottom of the Weddell Sea for more than 30 years. Only after 2020 did it begin to sail and cross the "iceberg corridor" in the South Atlantic through strong ocean currents.
At the beginning of 2025, the iceberg stopped near the island of South Georgia, creating a dangerous situation for penguin and seal colonies. Then in May it started moving again and headed north, covering up to 20 km in a day.
Scientists link the iceberg's decay process to the effects of warm waters and strong waves. According to them, it is surprising how long A23a has remained intact. At the same time, the rapid melting of icebergs is linked to human activity and global climate change, which is having a significant impact on the Antarctic ecosystem.
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