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In 2017, this mass of ice separated from Antarctica and ocean currents put it on a collision course with the British island.
The impact is scheduled for this month or January 2021, according to the Royal Navy.
❄️ The A68-A iceberg is now less than 100 kilometers from the shores of the islands of South Georgia.
It begins to rotate on itself, which means that it could have reached the level of the seabed around the island and be partially grounded.
A68-A The drift of the iceberg is controlled thanks to # Sentinel3 satellite🛰️ pic.twitter.com/pJyl9BQ1yh
– Mundi News (mundiwebservice) December 16, 2020
The wildlife ecosystems that depend on the coast of South Georgia Island are threatenedexplains Professor Geraint Tarling, an ecologist with the British Antarctic Survey to the BBC.
The whale refuge, in the coastal corners, can disappear due to the gigantic ice obstacle.
According to the Antarctic surveillance authorities, Satellite images document the distance of about 100 kilometers between the world’s largest iceberg and land..
Researchers expect the iceberg to disintegrate in the middle of the ocean if it turns north. Satellite images recorded last Thursday revealed a chunk of roughly 150 square kilometers floating free from the main iceberg. It will have hit the bottom of the sea, causing the corner to break.
If there are no currents to contradict current evolution, the A68-A will hit the island and remain stagnant until it melts.
“Ecosystems can and will recover, of course, but until then, there is a danger that if this iceberg gets stuck, it could stay there for ten years,” adds Geraint Tarling.
The melting of fresh water will also have an impact on underwater life, such as phytoplankton and the subsequent food chain.
There are no permanent residents on British overseas territory, only bases linked to the investigation.
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