End of an ice giant: A23a, once the world’s largest iceberg, nears its impending disintegration
A23a now nears total breakup after decades adrift. — Picture via X/Nasa Earth
Sunday, 18 Jan 2026 7:00 AM MYT
PARIS, Jan 18 — The impending disintegration of what was once the world’s largest iceberg, A23a, has been captured in a new satellite image, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
The image shows the first signs that the iceberg will soon break up completely, the European Space Agency (ESA) reported on Friday, noting the exceptionally clear, cloud-free view of the giant as it floats off Antarctica.
“The bright blue areas visible on its surface and on the icebergs to its south are ponds of meltwater, which are clear signs of the iceberg’s rapid demise,” said the Paris-based agency.
The image was taken by the Sentinel-2 satellite of the European Earth observation programme Copernicus.
Iceberg A23a was once the largest iceberg in the world, covering around 4,000 square kilometres - more than three times the size of Rome. It has now diminished to about 1,000 square kilometres in area.
After breaking off from the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf on the Antarctic mainland in 1986, A23a remained grounded on the seabed for decades.
The so-called megaberg broke free in 2000 but remained trapped in circulating ocean currents before drifting rapidly away from Antarctic waters in November 2023. It is now located in the South Atlantic.
On December 20, the satellite captured it about 150 kilometres north-west of South Georgia Island, surrounded by several small icebergs.
It is not unusual for icebergs that travel this far north to break up, due to warmer sea temperatures and weather conditions.
According to ESA, A23a is on course for even warmer climes and will soon share the fate of other icebergs that have broken up in these waters. — Bernama-dpa
***
On further melting away, A23a will surprisingly, nay, shockingly, nay, wondrously, reveal a Roman trireme in virtually pristine conditions, which even more amazingly, will show a caption stating "Di buat olih orang Melayu".
Further investigation, analysis and research will reveal that the Antarctic was once inhabited and civilised by Malays who, alas, had to evacuate to Christmas Island when the Aliens from the Zygorg Universe invaded Antarctic 5,000 years ago.
MAGA says its all Woke created Fake Newd
ReplyDeleteGlobal warming is a hoax and a scam
ReplyDeleteBERLIN, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- A powerful winter outbreak is sweeping across Europe, battering more than a dozen countries with heavy snow, freezing rain, and gale-force winds, resulting in fatalities, flight cancellations, and widespread power outages.
HEAVY SNOW, FREEZING COLD
The British Met Office on Thursday upgraded its wind warnings for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to the rare red alert, as Storm Goretti evolves into a "weather bomb." The storm could be "stronger than other storms in recent memory," the Met Office said, describing it as a "multi-hazard" event posing "danger to life."
A cold snap is gripping parts of Denmark and Norway this weekend, with hard frost forecast in northern Denmark and heightened avalanche danger across large areas of Norway. In Denmark, the overnight low in Aalborg is expected to drop to around minus 16 degrees Celsius, with officials noting that temperatures below minus 15 degrees Celsius have been rare in recent years. In Norway, avalanche warnings cover most of the country, including "considerable" danger in several regions of Nordland county.
In Germany, winter storm Elli swept across large parts of the country on Friday, killing at least three people and severely disrupting public services, particularly in the country's north.
you have absolutely nil clue as to the consequences of climate change
DeleteAyam simply quoting Xinhua.
Deletejust those mfering no brainer c&p, w/o an oz. of indepth research.
DeleteOooop… expecting too much from a recalcitrant dickhead
'…Ayam simply quoting Xinhua'
DeleteA H5N1 infested dying chook, using a distorted Xinhua report to fart about!