Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
A massive iceberg, approximately four times the size of New Delhi, has broken away from the Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica. This significant event was captured in satellite imagery on May 20.
Photo: ESA
The iceberg, designated A-83, spans an area of 380 square kilometres. This calving event is the third significant ice loss from this region in the past four years.
The separation of the iceberg resulted from prolonged weakening at the McDonald Ice Rumples and the eastward extension of the "Halloween Crack," a large fissure in the ice.
This area has experienced notable calving events in recent years, producing iceberg A-74 in 2021 and the larger A-81 in 2023. The frequency of these events is a growing concern.
Glaciologist Jane Smith from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) explained that temperature differences between water and ice help identify the precise location of the calving line.
Routine satellite monitoring provides valuable insights into these remote events. This allows scientists to observe how ice shelves respond to changing environmental conditions.
The calving event does not pose an immediate threat to BAS's Halley VI Research Station, which was relocated in 2017 due to instability in the outer ice shelf.
This event underscores the dynamic nature of Antarctica's ice and highlights the importance of continued satellite observations to monitor changes in the ice shelves.
European Space Agency scientist Alex Johnson emphasized the importance of the Copernicus Sentinel-1 radar, which provides year-round viewing, especially crucial during the dark austral winter months.
Photo: ESA