‘s largest iceberg began to move in the waters of Antarctica

This object, called “A23a,” which is almost 4,000 square kilometers in size, or almost 40 times the area of ​​Paris, began to move despite being blocked for more than thirty years.

Published on November 27th, 2023 1:00 p.m

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Satellite image from Sentinel-3 showing iceberg A23a in Antarctica, November 26, 2023. (COPERNICUS SENTINEL-3 / AFP)

The news comes a few days before the opening of COP28. The world’s largest iceberg, dubbed “A23a,” has started moving in Antarctic waters, the European Copernicus Observatory reported.

This nearly 4,000 square kilometer iceberg – almost 40 times the area of ​​Paris – was blocked for more than thirty years. “Since breaking away from the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in West Antarctica in 1986, the iceberg that once housed a Soviet research station has remained largely stuck after its submerged portion came to rest on the floor of the Weddell Sea,” reports Le Monde .

The reason for this move is currently unknown. Andrew Fleming, an expert at the British Antarctic Survey, told the BBC he had asked colleagues for their opinions. At this point, the consensus does not emphasize that warming Antarctic waters play a significant role in the formation of A23a, he reported. However, according to a scientific study published in October in the journal Nature Climate Change, Antarctica is melting irreversibly.

Threat on the island of South Georgia

The drift of A23a is being closely monitored as, like that of A68 in 2020, it poses a threat to the ecosystem of the island of South Georgia. The latter is a paradise of exceptional biodiversity. “This is exactly where nutrients from the southern oceans collect and feed an incredible number of marine animals,” explains Brut.

The island of South Georgia is home to 5 million Antarctic fur seals, or 95% of the world’s population, and 400,000 southern elephant seals, or more than half of the total population. It is also the main breeding ground for king penguins, with 450,000 registered pairs. It could be dramatic for these animals if the iceberg reached this area.