World’s biggest iceberg four times the size of London is about to ‘break free’ into the ocean
THE biggest iceberg on Earth is about to enter the open ocean.
Referred to as colossus iceberg A68, the enormous ice block broke off Antarctica in 2017 and is only just heading for the Southern Ocean's rough waters.
The iceberg has retained much of its huge size since it broke free from Antartica, an event that's scientifically referred to as calving.
Back in 2017 it had an area of around 6,000 square kilometres, which is around four times the size of London.
It's thought to have stayed a similar size ever since.
However, as the berg moves further away from the Antarctic Peninusula it's likely to begin to reduce in size.
Prof Adrian Luckman from Swansea University in the UK told the : "With a thickness to length ratio akin to five sheets of A4, I am astonished that the ocean waves haven't already made ice cubes out of A68.
"If it survives for long as one piece when it moves beyond the edge of the sea-ice, I will be very surprised."
For around a year after A68 split from the Larsen C Ice Shelf, the huge iceberg hardly moved because it was likely still grounded on the seafloor.
However, winds and currents began to push it northwards along the Antarctic Peninsula's east coast.
Now, this drift has accelerated and the iceberg is set to enter the open waters of the ocean.
This means it will need to be closely monitored as its sheer size could cause issues for ships.
Luckily, scientists think the iceberg is following a predictable course.
Soon it will be free of the peninsula it has clung to and sweep northwards towards the Atlantic.
This path is often referred to as "Iceberg Alley".
Satellites will monitor A68 on its path to make sure it doesn't cause any harm.
It's possible that the iceberg could reach further than the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia.
The biggest ever iceberg on record was 11,000 sq km and it calved from the Ross Ice Shelf in Antartica back in 2000.
One of its last remnants is still around today, measuring 200 sq km.
It's currently halfway to the South Sandwich Islands.
What is an iceberg?
Here's what you need to know...
- An iceberg is a large chunk of ice made from freshwater
- It has typically broken off from a glacier or an ice shelft
- The name is a loan translation from the Dutch 'ijsberg', which means ice mountain
- Icebergs are found floating freely in open salt-water
- Around 90% of an iceberg is below the surface, and therefore not visible
- That's why they're considered to be a major shipping hazard
- The most famous iceberg-at-sea incident was the 1912 loss of the "unsinkable" RMS Titanic, which capsized after hitting an iceberg
- The largest iceberg ever recorded is Iceberg B-15, which was calved from Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf in March 2000
- It measured 183 miles long, 23 miles wide, and had a surface area of 4,200 square miles – bigger than Jamaica
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