Giant iceberg as seen from weather satellite

[Yves70]

@idefix37
@Gkikas-LGPZ
I tried as well but indeed it was hidden by the clouds

[idefix37]

@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.

[Gkikas LGPZ]

@idefix37
@Yves70
I found this site (U.S. National Ice Center)
https://usicecenter.gov/Products/AntarcIcebergs
but i don't see "operational" data.

[idefix37]

@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.

[Gkikas LGPZ]

@idefix37
... today, I see, the mother berg doubled
birthing a large child berg (aprox. 20 km long)

[idefix37]

@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.

[idefix37]

@gkikas-lgpz
Now it seems cracking in 2 big pieces

[Gkikas LGPZ]

@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)

[Gkikas LGPZ]

24 Dec 2020

[idefix37]

@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?

[Gkikas LGPZ]

@idefix37
...or maybe because of the divergence of the sea currents
in the area aprox. 90 NM south of the S. Georgia island.

[idefix37]

@gkikas-lgpz
Finally the iceberg stopped travelling and broke into several pieces.

[Gkikas LGPZ]

@idefix37
Here we go again
"Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica calves"
https://www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/brunt-ice-shelf-in-antarctica-calves/

[idefix37]

@gkikas-lgpz
Interesting, it shows how these huge icebergs are born.

[Yves70]

@gkikas-lgpz
Thanks for sharing !