Giant iceberg A23a close to hitting South Georgia, affecting wildlife

This iceberg was trapped in an oceanic vortex for decades before breaking free in December 2024 and its movement may affect not only wildlife, but also the fishing activities carried out by the usurpers of the South Atlantic in Argentine territories.

27 de January de 2025 08:28

There is a possibility that the iceberg could become stuck in the shallow waters around South Georgia or drift with ocean currents.

A colossal iceberg , known as A23a , is heading towards South Georgia, a territory usurped by the British in the South Atlantic and famous for its rich biodiversity , including penguins and seals .

The iceberg formed in 1986 , weighs about one billion tons and is approximately 280 kilometers away from the island . Its path could have significant consequences for local wildlife .

The massive ice pack, which benefits from the warmer waters of the South Atlantic , has begun to disintegrate , adding an extra level of uncertainty to its trajectory.

In the coming weeks , A23a is expected to approach the island , where the water becomes shallower . This could cause the iceberg to become stuck on the sandbanks surrounding the island, interfering with the reproductive cycle of the seabirds that inhabit the region.

British Antarctic Survey physical oceanographer Andrew Meijers observed the iceberg during an expedition in December 2023, commenting that A23a stretches "from horizon to horizon" and is 40 metres high , making it a " massive wall of ice ". Although the speed of its movement is slow, advancing at one metre every three to seven seconds , its potential impact is a cause for concern .

South Georgia is a breeding habitat for millions of penguins and seals, and during the summer, adults enter the sea to find food for their young. The iceberg may hinder this access to marine resources , resulting in increased mortality among chicks due to lack of food .

" Icebergs can block the path to their food, forcing parents to search further afield, meaning they bring home less ," Meijers said. While this could hurt local populations in the short term, scientists like Ted Scambos , an ice expert at the University of Colorado , say the Southern Ocean ecosystem is resilient and has evolved to cope with these phenomena over millions of years .

As iceberg A23a moves, scientists, fishermen and conservationists are on alert . The waters around South Georgia are considered an " iceberg alley ," a common path for these giant ice blocks.

The arrival of A23a could impact both local fisheries and wildlife, although many environmentalists are confident in the ability of these populations to adapt .

It has now been reduced in size to about 3,500 square kilometers , approximately 400 square kilometers less than when it first broke away. Its remaining size is slightly larger than the district of General Alvear in the province of Buenos Aires .

 

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