A gigantic iceberg that is of twice the size of Luxembourg has broken off the ice shelf of the peninsula of Antarctica and is now moving in the forward direction in the Weddell Sea.
As it was reported to be in a state that was best described as “Hanging by a thread” the previous month, the iceberg which is estimated to be weighing trillion tonnes was found to be fragmented form Larsen C segment of the ice shelf of Larsen on the morning of Wednesday after the scientists analyzed the latest data from the satellite of the area.
The ice shelf of Larsen C is larger than 12 per cent smaller in the area before breaking of or calving of the iceberg- an event which the experts say has resulted in changing the landscape of the peninsula of Antarctica drastically and left the ice shelf of Larsen C at its lowest extent that has been ever recorded.
“It is a major event in actual terms considering the size of the ice shelf which we observe now drifting away,” stated Anna Hogg who is an expert in the satellite observations of the glaciers forms the University of Leeds.
The new iceberg which is approximately 5,800 square kilometres is expected to be named as A68, is estimated to be half of the size of the B-15 which is the record holder iceberg that split off from the ice shelf of Ross in the year 2000, however, it is believed to be included among the 10 largest icebergs till date.
The large crack which resulted in the new iceberg developed over a long period of years, however, between 25th May and 31st May only, the ice rift grew over 17 kilometres.