World’s biggest iceberg battered by waves as it heads north

Subject: Environment

Section: Climate Change

Context:

The iceberg named A23a is nearly more than twice the size of Greater London. After decades stuck to the Antarctic ocean floor, it is now heading north on what could be its final journey.

More About News:

A23a first broke off the Antarctic coast in 1986, making it the world’s oldest iceberg as well as its largest.
The iceberg, which is up to 400 metres thick in places, is currently drifting between Elephant Island and the South Orkney islands.
It contains an estimated one trillion tonnes of freshwater that is likely to melt off into the ocean along the way.
Since breaking free, A23a has followed roughly the same path as previous massive icebergs, A68 and A76, moving past the east side of the Antarctica Peninsula through the Weddell Sea.
Whether or not this was caused by climate change, winter Antarctic sea ice reached its lowest level on record last year, remains an open question.

Key Facts about Antarctica

It is the world’s southernmost and fifth largest continent. Its landmass is almost wholly covered by a vast ice sheet.

It has an extremely cold, dry climate. Winter temperatures along Antarctica’s coast generally range from -10° to -30°C (14° to -22°F).

Lichens, mosses, and terrestrial algae are among the few species of vegetation that grow in Antarctica.

The islands of the Antarctic region are: South Orkney Islands, South Shetland Islands, South Georgia.

India maintains two research stations on the continent: ‘Maitri’ (commissioned in 1989) at Schirmacher Hills and ‘Bharati’ (2012) at Larsemann Hills.