Have you heard about the colossal A23a iceberg, currently grounded off the coast of the South Atlantic island of South Georgia?
This iceberg first broke away in 1986 and remained on a sandbank in the middle of the Weddell Sea for 35 years.
Scientists from the UK Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling (CPOM) monitor icebergs like A23a from space using satellites to better understand the impact of a warming climate on the cryosphere.
Recently, A23a has been making headlines as it drifts closer to South Georgia, raising concerns about its potential effects on shipping routes and local wildlife.
Over the weekend (14 – 15 March 2025), CPOM Director Professor Andrew Shepherd spoke to Sky News and Times Radio about this iceberg and the threats it poses to penguins, seals, and marine life that thrive in these coastal areas.
As we don’t get to see these icebergs up close very often, it is fantastic to see this video footage from Sky News, which helps show the true scale of this mega iceberg.
Image Credit: Professor Andrew Shepherd (taken in Antarctica).
