A massive iceberg weighing 1 billion tons and measuring twice the size of London is once again drifting through the Southern Ocean. Known as A23a, the colossal “megaberg” originally broke away from the Antarctic coastline in 1986 and remained grounded on the Weddell Sea floor for over three decades. It began moving north in 2020 but found itself trapped in a swirling water vortex earlier this year.
The vortex, called a Taylor Column, left the iceberg spinning in place for months. However, recent updates from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) confirm that A23a has broken free and is once again on the move. Scientists expect it to drift into the Atlantic Ocean, where warmer waters will eventually cause it to melt, eliminating any immediate risks to shipping routes or nearby islands.
Researchers are particularly interested in the iceberg’s ecological impact. Dr. Laura Taylor, part of BAS’s BIOPOLE project, noted that giant icebergs can fertilize ocean waters, creating new ecosystems in their wake. Scientists have been collecting water samples to better understand how A23a’s scale and origin influence surrounding marine life and carbon cycles.
Oceanographer Dr. Andrew Meijers expressed excitement about tracking A23a’s journey, saying it will provide valuable insight into how these massive icebergs behave and interact with Earth’s oceans.
