An iceberg named A-83, 380 sq km in size, broke off the Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica on May 20.
"This calving event results from a prolonged weakening of the ice at the McDonald Ice Rumples and progressive eastward extension of the so-called ‘Halloween Crack’ into the ice shelf."
In 2021, the Brunt Ice Shelf produced an iceberg called A-74 followed by an even bigger berg, named A-81, in 2023.
Names for icebergs larger than 10 nautical miles (on the longest axis) start with the letter A, B, C or D followed by a sequentially assigned number, e.g., A-83.
The letter is based on the Antarctic quadrant where an iceberg originates, as shown in the graphic below -
A = 0-90W (Bellingshausen/Weddell Sea)
B = 90W-180 (Amundsen/Eastern Ross Sea)
C = 180-90E (Western Ross Sea/Wilkesland)
D = 90E-0 (Amery/Eastern Weddell Sea)
Although the calvings in this area are not thought to be directly linked to climate change, NASA states that "the Brunt Ice Shelf is feeling the same pressures as elsewhere around Antarctica, including low sea ice conditions. When less sea ice is present, ice shelves are more exposed to destabilizing wind and wave action."
In the waters around Antarctica, ice coverage in Feb. 2024 shrank to near-historic lows for the third year in a row.
The start of the mélange zone in front of Melville Glacier, massive and fresh icebergs formed an ice wall. Large calving event this week, slightly unusual so early in the year and with so much fast ice, unfortunately we missed recording it but our instruments will get the next one. Greenland loses around half of it's ice by calving so it's an important process to understand.
This glacier is clearly very dynamic.
It's an incredible field site, the glacier is continuously pushing and heaving and you can hear it while you're there. Lots of seals around on the sea ice too and many polar fox tracks...
Some long days and no internet so posting a few late pictures now with some fieldwork updates. Satellite image from ESA's Sentinel 2 mission, processed on snapplanet
The #Antarctic monthly #seaice extent for February 2024 landed among the 3 lowest on record, behind 2023 and very close to 2017.
Nowhere, does sea ice in Feb 2024 seem to fall outside the 30-year mean contour. Except for the A23 #iceberg that is seen northeast of the Antarctic peninsula 🧊😀