Iceberg the Size of Rhode Island On Collision Course in the Southern Ocean

Amaze Lab

A-23A the largest iceberg in the world and it’s on the move. The whole thing is about the size of the state of Rhode Island and it is on a collision course with a wildlife haven in the Southern Ocean.

Transcript

00:00This is A-238, the largest iceberg in the world, and it's on the move.

00:09The whole thing is about the size of the state of Rhode Island, and weighs upwards of one

00:13trillion tons.

00:15For eight months it stayed spinning in the Southern Ocean, trapped in a whirlpool.

00:18However now it's on a collision course with the island of South Georgia, which is situated

00:23between Argentina and Antarctica.

00:25Experts say this could be a big problem, as the island is a place where many vulnerable

00:29species call their home, including seals, penguins, and other seabirds.

00:34That's because if the iceberg ends up grounded, it could block access to the feeding grounds

00:38these creatures rely on.

00:39In fact, in 2004, a similar occurrence happened on this very island.

00:43When that iceberg became grounded, conservationists marked an uptick in seal, pup, and penguin

00:47chick mortality there.

00:49That's because, according to oceanographer Andrew Myers, the adults must swim further

00:53to go around the berg, and thus expend more energy and bring back less.

00:57Scientists say they are hoping that recent storms will break up the iceberg, and prevent

01:00a large mass of it making landfall in the wildlife haven.

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