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Science Blog ZINC PROJECTS

Splitting iceberg

Date: 24-Mar-08
Author: NASA & ESA

In late 2004 satellite image mosaic shows the mega-iceberg A53a in the process of breaking off from the Larsen Ice Shelf.

Courtesy: NASA GSFC

On 15 January 2008 astronauts of Expedition 16 mission on the International Space Station took the photographs for this mosaic of A53a, which measured close to 50 km by 22 km [31 mi by 14 mi] or about seven times the area of Manhattan Island. The images were acquired from 780 km [485 mi] to the north of the iceberg at an altitude of 341 km [212 mi]. The perspective distorts the oblong shape of the iceberg, making it look squarer than it actually is.

The existence of melt ponds, combined with high summer temperatures, suggest to glaciologists that this iceberg is fast approaching the point of breaking up, probably within a few months.

Courtesy: NASA JSC

On 1 March 2008 the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) instrument on the European Space Agency (ESA) Envisat satellite spotted a huge fissure running south to north through the massive A53a iceberg located just east of the South Georgia Island (visible at image bottom) in the southern Atlantic Ocean.

Courtesy: ESA

Just days afterwards on 4 March 2008, the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) sensor on Envisat captured the breakup of the iceberg. Both bergs are estimated to measure around 30 km [19 mi] in length. As a reference, South Georgia Island (visible at image bottom) is approximately 180-km [112-mi] long.

Courtesy: ESA

On 15 March 2008 the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors on NASA's Terra satellite acquired an image showing the iceberg after it broke in two near South Georgia Island. The iceberg pieces have drifted apart; with the eastern iceberg (right) in the process of further fragmentation. Both icebergs have shed giant slivers of ice.

Courtesy: NASA GSFC

Larger version of these images and additional information are available via the links below.

Related links:

• Mega-iceberg A53a, South Atlantic
• Earth from Space: Splitting iceberg
• Disintegration of Iceberg A53a