A massive iceberg, measuring over 3,300 sq km, has run aground 70km from a remote Antarctic island, potentially sparing crucial wildlife habitats from disruption. The iceberg, A23a, had been drifting north towards South Georgia Island since 2020 and raised fears of collision or grounding, which could affect penguins and seals.
According to Andrew Meijers, an oceanographer with the British Antarctic Survey, the iceberg has been stuck for over a month, with satellite imagery suggesting it is not crumbling into smaller chunks. The good news for wildlife is that if the iceberg stays grounded, its impact on local ecosystems will be minimal. In fact, the grounding may even provide benefits, such as boosted food availability for penguins and seals.
The giant iceberg was formed in 1986 and remained stuck for over 30 years before breaking free in 2020. Satellite tracking has been monitoring its movement since then. Icebergs of this size are rare but not unheard of, with two similar-sized icebergs appearing in the same area over the past five years.
The global warming crisis is also relevant here, as researchers warn that rising temperatures could lead to enough frozen water melting to lift oceans by a dozen meters. The recent year above 1.5C has smashed previous heat records and highlighted the urgent need for action to mitigate climate change.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/05/a23a-iceberg-runs-aground-south-georgia-climate