The World’s Largest Iceberg is Approaching South Georgia—Here’s What It Means for the Island!

[Article déjà publié le 27 janvier 2025]

It is a disaster scenario that is looming for southern Georgia, a small British island located in Antarctica. Indeed, the island, but especially its populations of seals and penguins, are threatened by a monumental iceberg. Named A23A, it is the biggest iceberg in the world: more than 3,500 km2 and 400 meters thick.

Detached since 1986, drifting since 2020

Closely monitored by the European Space Agency (ESA), A23A, before holding the title of Iceberg the largest in the world, was first attached to a glacial platform. It was that of Filchner-Ronne in the Western Antarctic, of which A23A was part.

Then in 1986, he detached it. However, he did not drift right away. Perhaps still attached to the family cocoon, he failed quickly and was blocked for more than 34 years. In 2020, he ended up detaching himself from the bottom of the ocean and began his slow drift in the Weddell Sea which led him to “The corridor of the icebergs” at the end of which is an island, the southern georgia .

A gigantic iceberg that threatens an entire island

In a few weeks the iceberg should therefore reach the South Georgia, an island whose size is similar to that of A23A. But if a collision seems inevitable, the latter could have very serious consequences on the animal populations of this island.

Indeed, southern Georgia is a place where large colonies of penguins and seals are grouped, among the most important populations in the world. And these are found today by the iceberg. Indeed, if the collision is likely to shake those who are nearby, it presents risks in the longer term.

Especially if access to the sea is cut by the iceberg. “” “Adults go to the sea offshore to look for food. If they have to go further, they will have to burn more energy and babies will receive less food. There is therefore a risk of increased mortality.”Explained Andrew Meijers, member of the British Antarctic Institute, in words reported by France Info.

Thus, in the event of a collision and blocking at the island level, animals populating this place will have to make gigantic detours to find food, which threatens their survival because can expose them to predators, but also that of their Small that might no longer receive enough food to grow.

[Mise à jour 26/02/2025 : Si la collision de l’iceberg A23a avec la Géorgie du Sud et que des conséquences négatives sont à envisager, une récente étude menée par des chercheurs de l’université de Utrecht au Pays-Bas a mis en avant plusieurs faits. Le premier, bien que l’île soit sur le chemin de l’iceberg, une collision n’est pas forcément à prévoir. En effet, les eaux entourant l’île sont très peu profondes. Autrement dit, si A23a continue sa course folle vers la Géorgie du Sud, il pourrait s’échouer avant même de percuter la terre.

Le deuxième part du premier. Si l’iceberg s’échoue, cela pourrait même avoir des conséquences positives. En effet, les courants marins entourant le bloc de glace géant pourraient attirer des espèces dont se nourrissent les animaux de l’île.]

What to do with A23A?

What should we do, but above all what can we do? The iceberg is the size of New York and is deeply plunged into the ocean. There are only a few weeks left before the collision, if it takes place, occurs.

Can we explode it? A question that studied, but which would require an astronomical quantity of explosives and a military intervention in the area when this is prohibited by the Antarctic Treaty.

Can we tow it? It seems unrealizable. Especially because you would need a really colossal fleet to achieve such a feat. It is recalled that the iceberg made between thirty-five and forty times the size of intramural Paris.

In 20 minuteswe even tried to call on Maverick and Son Goku to get rid of it, in vain.

But we may not need it all. Indeed, the more the iceberg approaches the southern Georgia, the more the water in which it navigates heats up. Thus, the block of ice could eventually fragment and melt even before touching its target.

Source : France Info / 20 minutes / ESA / Physical