Massive iceberg almost four times the size of Delhi, breaks off from Antarctica

Newly obtained satellite images show a giant iceberg calving off from Antarctica’s Brunt Ice Shelf.

The particular iceberg, which has been named A-83, covers an expanse of the water body measuring 380 square kilometers, and this actually means that the size of this iceberg is four times the size of New Delhi.

This particular calving event is interesting since it can be said to be the third large ice shed from this area in the last four years.

The separation was caused by a long-term weakening of the ice at the McDonald Ice Rumples and the eastward spread of a significant crack called the “Halloween Crack.” In 2021, this same region produced iceberg A-74, and in 2023, the even larger A-81 followed.

A clear image of the triangular iceberg A-83 detachment was obtained from the radar images from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite on May 22. Temperature data obtained from Landsat 8 went on to reveal the iceberg thickness profile, whereby areas of low temperature, meaning firmed ice, were found to be farther from open water temperatures, which had higher temperatures, meaning thinner ice.

Jane Smith, a glaciologist at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), said, “The temperature differences between water and ice help identify precisely where the calving line is.”

While the formation of icebergs is a normal process, the frequency of calving is becoming alarming due to the implications of the rates of climate change affecting the Antarctic ice shelves. These events may be too distant and infrequent to be captured using traditional means, but routine satellite monitoring provides rare glimpses into these processes and the way that ice shelves react to them.

The calving event does not immediately threaten BAS’s Halley VI Research Station, which was relocated in 2017 because of instability in the outer ice shelf. However, it highlights the dynamic nature of Antarctica’s ice and the importance of ongoing observations.

Alex Johnson, a European Space Agency scientist, commented:

“The Copernicus Sentinel-1 radar allows year-round viewing, which is crucial through the dark austral winter months; this event highlights the value of satellite data for monitoring Antarctic ice shelf changes.”

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