Giant iceberg as seen from weather satellite
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historic track
and relative size
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@gkikas-lgpz
The iceberg should not crash on South Georgia Island, but probably will turn to the right following the current. It will be possible to verify it on Windy by spotting 2 favorites at each end of the iceberg when it is visible to see the position changes. -
@idefix37
To track it we need multi days imagery
and Windy provides only for the last 12 hrs. -
@gkikas-lgpz
Sure but if you place a new favorite on the iceberg each couple of weeks, you’ll get its track... -
@idefix37
Good idea! Thanks! -
@idefix37
I followed your tip!
During the last 3 days, iceberg traveled 20 NM south (following the currents).
20 NM/3 days = aprox. 0,3 kts.
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... and the current speed in the area is ...
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@gkikas-lgpz
Excellent !
I’ve tried too, but the iceberg was hidden by clouds.
But right now it is perfectly visible. So I’ve put 2 favorites at both end of the iceberg as landmarks.
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@idefix37
@Gkikas-LGPZ
I tried as well but indeed it was hidden by the clouds -
@gkikas-lgpz
Now the question is to know if the iceberg which is said to be 200m deep, could be blocked by rocky shoals between South Georgia and Sandwich islands or trapped by these scattered islands. The current seems to push it to the east, but waters are not free on this side.
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@idefix37
@Yves70
I found this site (U.S. National Ice Center)
https://usicecenter.gov/Products/AntarcIcebergs
but i don't see "operational" data. -
@gkikas-lgpz
A68a iceberg has started pivoting and heading now SE. As said above, the eastern route is not free of obstacles like Sandwich Islands and rocky shoals.
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@idefix37
... today, I see, the mother berg doubled
birthing a large child berg (aprox. 20 km long)
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@gkikas-lgpz
Yes, this morning it was not so clear due to cloud, but right now it is obvious that a small part (however 20km long) has been separated from A68a. -
@gkikas-lgpz
Now it seems cracking in 2 big pieces
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@idefix37
https://usicecenter.gov/PressRelease/IcebergA68E_F
and
https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2020-12-23
Looks like a giant crack.
During these breakup events a lot of energy released.
The noises as the iceberg broke apart,
called "icequakes" (or cryoseisms).
I want to mention, also, that the "main" iceberg travells faster
than the small fragment (35 nm north) -
24 Dec 2020
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@gkikas-lgpz
It seems that the big piece now moves to NW and the smaller ones to NE. May be due to a different depth and so reaching different current layers?
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@idefix37
...or maybe because of the divergence of the sea currents
in the area aprox. 90 NM south of the S. Georgia island.
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@gkikas-lgpz
Finally the iceberg stopped travelling and broke into several pieces.
