enormous iceberg that is heading toward island of South Georgia in southern Atlantic Ocean has broken up into three large chunks. Scientists from NASA have been tracking berg - dubbed A68a - for several weeks. It actually calved from Larsen C ice shelf in 2017 and has been floating northwards ever since. In recent weeks, fast-moving stream of water known as Southern Antarctic Circumpolar Current Front has put chunks on trajectory that means they could run aground off coast of South Georgia. Scientists say the three fragments are roughly 2,600 square kilometres in size. The submerged part of one chunk is 106 metres at its thickest point.
The sheer bulk of three iceberg chunks poses serious threat to wildlife of South Georgia. There could be environmental catastrophe waiting to happen. If the three mini icebergs collide with seabed, they could obstruct penguins and seals from foraging for fish. They could also block route between penguin colonies and their feeding grounds during breeding season. Scientists worry the underside of fragments could grind the seabed near South Georgia and disrupt delicate underwater ecosystems. This could be exacerbated by introduction of mass of fresh water to the ecosystems as the stationary fragments melt over summer months.
