The world’s largest iceberg is on the move again

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Iceberg A-23A, the world's largest and oldest, is drifting toward South Georgia Island after being trapped in ocean currents for months
• The iceberg, roughly the size of Rhode Island, weighs nearly 1 trillion tons and could impact the island’s wildlife
• Scientists are closely monitoring its path, as previous iceberg groundings have disrupted ecosystems

🔭 The context: A-23A broke off Antarctica’s Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in 1986 but remained stuck to the seafloor for decades before starting to drift freely in 2023
• It recently escaped a swirling ocean current and is now moving at about 1 km/h toward South Georgia
• Similar icebergs have previously disrupted local ecosystems by blocking feeding routes for penguins and seals

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: If A-23A grounds near South Georgia, it could make foraging harder for millions of penguins, seals, and seabirds by forcing them to swim longer distances for food
• The iceberg is also expected to break up into smaller pieces, which could pose navigation challenges for fishing vessels
• Scientists see this as part of a broader trend of changing ice dynamics due to climate shifts

⏭️ What's next: The iceberg is expected to reach South Georgia’s continental shelf in about two weeks, where it may either ground, break apart, or drift past the island
• Strong winds and waves could accelerate its disintegration, reducing its impact on wildlife
• Scientists will continue monitoring its movement and potential environmental consequences

💬 One quote: “If it does ground on the continental shelf ... this could pose a significant problem for seals and [penguins] presently feeding their chicks and pups.” – Andrew Meijers, British Antarctic Survey

📈 One stat: More than 3.5 million fur seals, or 95-98% of the world’s population, live on South Georgia Island, making them particularly vulnerable to disruptions

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