An iceberg xxl straight on an island, threatening penguins and sea lions

Satellite hunted, the largest iceberg in the world, kilometer longcurrently derives from Antarctica to a remote island where it could, in the worst case, run aground and block the penguins and sea lions which are reproduced there.

This huge ice platform – 30 times larger than Paris – has been moving away for years of Antarctica and, propelled by currents, potentially heads towards The British Island of South Georgiaan important site for the reproduction of wildlife.

Where is he heading?

According to satellite images, this iceberg, unlike the previous giant icebergs, does not seem to be fragrant in smaller pieces during its drift, explained on Friday at theAFP Andrew Meijers, océanographe au British Antarctic Survey.

According to the expert, it is difficult to predict his trajectory accurately, but the dominant currents suggest that this colossus will reach the surroundings of the continental plateau, located in shallow waters, around the Southern Georgia within two to four weeks. What could happen next remains uncertain.

The iceberg could avoid the continental plateau and be swept towards the deep waters of the South Atlantic, beyond the South Georgia, an overseas British territory located about 1,400 km east of the islands Falkland.

But he could also hit the tilted background, stay stuck for monthsor even break into several pieces.

A danger for sea lions and penguins

The ice walls could then prevent sea lions and penguins from accessing the ocean to feed They themselves and their little ones, explains Andrew Meijers. “It would be fairly dramaticbut not unprecedented, “said the expert.

Icebergs have already failed themselves in this place in the past, causing significant mortality among penguin chicks and young sea lions.

But for some experts, such as Raul Cordero of the University of Santiago, “the chances of collision are not very high”, in the order of “less than 50 %”, the island tends to deviate water and The ocean currents which, in turn, could deviate the iceberg.

“Pieces” could perhaps hit the island “but the iceberg as a whole, it would be surprising”, judges this member of the National Antarctic Research Committee.

A “huge white cliff”

Extending over about 3,500 square kilometersthe iceberg called A23A is also The oldest in the world. He detached himself from the Antarctic Ice platform in 1986.

He then remained stuck on the sea floor for more than 30 years before freeing himself in 2020, then starting his slow drift to the north. He stayed several months in 2024 in the same place to turn on himself.

Andrew Meijers, who observed A23A near the end of 2023, describes him as “a huge white cliff, 40 to 50 meters highwhich extends as far as the eye can see. ”

It's like a gigantic white wall that recalls Game of Thrones, it feels like it is endless.

Weighing near 1,000 billion tonnesthe gigantic block of fresh water is driven by the most powerful ocean current in the world, the Antarctic circumpolar current, 20 centimeters per second, according to the British Antarctic Survey.

What role of climate change?

When A23A or its fragments will end up melting, they could leave in their wake Smaller pieces of ice, but always dangerouscomplicating navigation for fishermen.

However, it will also bring Water nutrientspromoting phytoplankton, an essential source of food for whales and other marine species. Failure will also help scientists better understand how these phytoplankton proliferations absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.

Although iceberg formation is a natural phenomenon, Andrew Meijers believes that their accelerated loss in Antarctica is probably due to climate change of human origin.

With AFP.

Follow all the news in your favorite cities and media by registering for my news.