World’s largest iceberg ‘A23a’ to strike South Georgia Island soon. Details here
A23a, the largest iceberg in the world, was set afloat recently on his journey in the south Atlantic after having been freed from the Filchner Ice Shelf in Antarctica. But this geographic event has instigated several questions as to how the iceberg will now affect the natural ecosystem of South Georgia Island.
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It's about one trillion tons in weight and has an area of about 400 square miles. A23a had spent 37 years sitting on the ocean floor northwest of Antarctica before it was detached from the Antarctic Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986.
Due to changing ocean currents, A23a is now drifting at about 300 kilometers away from South Georgia Island. Experts estimate that it could soon reach the island. South Georgia Island is a small island mainly populated by penguins and seals, which is why scientists are also worried about its potential ecological impact on the island's local geology.
Is the iceberg really going to affect the natural ecosystem of South Georgia Island?
The iceberg is predicted to crash into South Georgia Island in that area due to the warmer sea, before getting stranded or being pushed to the land by currents. If the iceberg becomes stuck, it may be difficult for the island's penguin parents to feed their young, and some may go hungry.
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