May 28, 2025 12:26 am
Full News

World’s Largest Iceberg Breaks Free and Drifts Northward After Yearlong Stagnation

The world’s largest iceberg, A23a, is once again on the move after being trapped in a rotating water column for much of 2024. Measuring 3,800 square kilometers (1,500 square miles)—more than twice the size of Greater London—and 400 meters (1,312 feet) thick, A23a is an enormous mass of ice that detached from the Antarctic continent in 1986. Initially, it broke free from the ice shelf, only to become lodged on the floor of the Weddell Sea, a part of the Southern Ocean, where it remained for over three decades.
In 2020, A23a began to drift slowly northward, but in the spring of 2024, it became ensnared in a rotating column of water near the South Orkney Islands. This “vortex” caused the iceberg to spin in place for several months, hindering its movement. However, recent observations by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) reveal that the iceberg is now moving northward once more, marking an exciting new phase in its journey.
Dr. Andrew Meijers, an oceanographer at BAS, expressed his enthusiasm for A23a’s movement, saying, “It’s exciting to see A23a on the move again after periods of being stuck.” He highlighted that the research team is particularly interested in understanding whether A23a will follow the same trajectory as other large icebergs that have calved off Antarctica in the past. The iceberg’s northward path is significant, as it is expected to eventually leave the Southern Ocean and enter the Atlantic, where warmer waters will likely cause it to break up into smaller fragments and melt. The iceberg’s interaction with the Southern Ocean and its eventual journey into the Atlantic presents an important opportunity for scientists to study the effects of such large ice masses on the global climate.
The iceberg’s movement is of particular interest to oceanographers and climate scientists because of its potential impact on local ecosystems. As it moves through the Southern Ocean, A23a is known to provide nutrients to the surrounding waters, fostering thriving ecosystems in regions that might otherwise be nutrient-poor. According to Laura Taylor, a biogeochemist who was part of the team aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough, “Giant icebergs can create thriving ecosystems in otherwise less productive areas,” but scientists are still researching how specific icebergs—especially those of enormous scale like A23a—affect these processes.
The British Antarctic Survey’s research into icebergs’ influence on ecosystems began last year when scientists aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough collected detailed data on the waters surrounding A23a. The researchers are particularly focused on understanding the iceberg’s role in providing crucial nutrients to the marine environment, which can lead to bursts of productivity in the ocean’s food chain. This interaction between the iceberg and the ocean is critical, as it can affect everything from plankton blooms to the behavior of larger marine species.
The study of A23a and other massive icebergs also holds climate significance. As icebergs like A23a move from the Antarctic region into warmer waters, they contribute to the overall melting of polar ice, which has implications for global sea levels. Researchers continue to monitor these icebergs’ paths to better understand how climate change is influencing the movement and breakdown of ice shelves in Antarctica.
A23a’s journey northward provides valuable scientific data on the long-term behavior of large icebergs and their influence on both marine ecosystems and global climate systems. As scientists track its movement, they continue to explore how icebergs like A23a will shape the future of oceanic environments and contribute to our understanding of climate dynamics. The iceberg’s eventual disintegration will likely provide further insight into the effects of ice melt and the broader consequences for Earth’s oceans and atmosphere.

Related News
Bangladesh Plans to Revive WWII-Era Airbase Near Siliguri Corridor With Chinese Help, Raising Alarms in India
Kolkata Book Fair Unveils Mascot and Goes Outdoor for its Golden Anniversary
OCCRP Exposed: US Government’s Secret Influence Over World’s Largest Investigative Journalism Network
Yakuza Leader Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Nuclear Materials and Drugs
DiCaprio and Scorsese Reunite for ‘Devil in the White City’ Revival
U.S. and NATO Discuss End to Ukraine Conflict and Defense Spending Boost
Related Posts
How Trump Plans to Avoid a Third Impeachment
Apple Rejected Elon Musk’s Satellite Offer—Now Its Ambitious Plans Are in Jeopardy
Direct Talks Between Syria and Israel
U.S. Warns Pirelli of Potential Sales Restrictions Over Chinese Ownership and Data-Collecting Tire Technology
Ukraine’s Drone Motherships Launch Groundbreaking Long-Range Autonomous Strikes
Israeli Troops Fire as Aid Operation Collapses Amid Gaza Hunger Crisis
More News

Shah Rukh Khan Joins Horror Thriller Film

Bollywood’s renowned filmmaker Aditya Sarpotdar is making waves with his upcoming project Heretic. This highly anticipated film is set to be a big-budget horror thriller featuring extensive VFX work. While preparations for the film are underway, a major buzz has been created around Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s potential involvement in the movie. According to […]

PCB Explains India’s Absence of Indian Flag on Pakistan Ground

The scene is seen by many favoured by social media. Videos circulating on X, Instagram and Facebook yesterday showed the flags of seven of the eight teams in this year’s Champions Trophy at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Not just the Indian flag. The question then arises, did the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) deliberately not […]

The Nobel Peace Prize winner tramples on press freedom

Charlotte Jacquemart The transitional government under Muhammad Yunus puts unwanted journalists in prison – with fabricated murder charges.  Getting into the country is easier than ever. The border police officer at Hazrat Shahjalal Airport in Dhaka waves you through. They are happy to have foreign tourists, as they have hardly been coming since the […]

Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Resigns

Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, Prime Minister of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, has announced his resignation. In a statement released Saturday, he declared his decision to step down from his position. Facing a series of challenges, including his failure to bring about reforms within the government, Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak stated in the announcement that he […]

Trump Backs Private High-Speed Rail Over California’s Public Project

The Voice News : President Donald Trump, having returned to the White House in January 2025 after winning the 2024 election, has continued to express strong support for private infrastructure initiatives, notably the Brightline West high-speed rail project. This stance contrasts with his administration’s critical view of California’s state-run high-speed rail endeavor, which has faced […]

Lebanon Pushes for Changes to U.S.-Brokered Ceasefire Proposal

Faster Israeli Withdrawal and Right to Self-Defence Lebanon is seeking amendments to a U.S. ceasefire proposal to ensure a quicker withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon and to establish both parties’ rights to self-defence, a senior Lebanese official said on Thursday. Ongoing Negotiations with U.S. Mediator The proposed changes were discussed during meetings in […]

Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration Officials to Testify on Secretive Department of Government Efficiency

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge John Bates in Washington ruled that Trump administration officials must face questioning under oath about the workings of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The lawsuit, filed by government employee unions, seeks to block the secretive cost-cutting department from accessing federal agency systems. Judge Bates ruled that the unions […]

Trump Blames Saudi Arabia for Ukraine War, Demands Lower Oil Prices

In a bold statement at the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Donald Trump blamed Saudi Arabia for the ongoing war in Ukraine and demanded that the kingdom lower oil prices to help end the conflict. Trump asserted that high oil prices are fueling the war, and a reduction could bring it to an immediate […]

Zelensky Wants to Negotiate a Deal to End the Ukraine War!

Newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump revealed on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is interested in negotiating a deal to end his country’s war with Russia. Recently, Trump and Zelensky met in Paris, where Zelensky expressed his interest in this matter, according to AFP reports. Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted trilateral discussions at […]

Zelensky ready to exchange ‘North Korean troops’ with Ukrainians held in Russia

Zelenskyy earlier said Ukraine had taken two North Korean soldiers captive from Russia’s Kursk region Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Kyiv is ready to hand over captured North Korean troops to their leader Kim Jong Un if they can arrange exchanges with Ukrainians imprisoned in Russia. “There will undoubtedly be more to come after […]