A huge iceberg almost the size of London has broken off from the Antarctic ice shelf near Britain.
Breakaway and the emergence of a new iceberg - partnatural process known as "calving," the scientists said. Nor is it due to climate change, which is accelerating the loss of sea ice in the Arctic and parts of Antarctica.
An iceberg with an area of 1,550 km² has separated fromThe 150-meter Brunt Ice Shelf, ten years after scientists first noticed massive cracks in the shelf. A similar dramatic separation involving a 1,270 km² iceberg occurred about a year ago.
“This calving event was expected and is part of the natural behavior of the Brant Ice Shelf,” said Dominic Hodgson, glaciologist with the British Antarctic Survey.
The British research station Halley VI monitors the status of a huge floating ice shelf every day, but the latest break has not affected it.
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On the cover: iceberg A-68, ESA