The world's largest iceberg is heading straight for the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, where it may
Satellite images show that the icebergheading northeast towards the British Isle. As the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) explained in a press release, the giant chunk of ice, if it reaches the island, would disrupt the lives of native wildlife, including seals and penguins.
Iceberg broke away from the ice shelf Larsen S stillin 2017, it is the world's largest iceberg, with an area of 4,850 square kilometers. Since the iceberg entered the ocean, it has shrunk slightly, but is still very large: it is 158 km long and 48 km wide. The A-68 is less than 200 m deep, which means it could harm the shallow shelf seabed.
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Although satellite images show that the A-68is on its way to South Georgia, the iceberg could still change course. The researchers also speculate that the iceberg could loop and turn sharply to the northwest. In this case, it will fall into warm waters and begin to gradually disintegrate.
However, scientists warn that the iceberg couldcrush sea creatures living on the bottom, which will further disrupt the ecosystem. According to Professor Geraint Tarling of the British Antarctic Survey, it will be able to recover over time, but there are fears that the iceberg will be stuck off the coast of the island for ten years. "And it will go a long way not only for the South Georgia ecosystem, but also for its economy."
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