In 1986, the iceberg broke off and soon ran aground in the Weddel Sea between Queen Maud and the Antarctic Peninsula. The iceberg, named A23a, has remained largely undisturbed ever since.

But in 2020, it began to weaken and now scientists can say that it has broken free from the seabed. Now the ice mass is located near the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. It will likely follow Southern Ocean currents towards the South Atlantic via a route called “iceberg alley” because of the large number of icebergs that end up here.

Nine times the size of Oslo

This iceberg is almost nine times the size of the Oslo area. It weighs almost three trillion tons and is more than 400 meters thick. There may be no particular reason why A23a is moving at this time, experts say.

– Over time, it may have become a little thinner and gained greater buoyancy, allowing it to be lifted off the seabed and carried along by ocean currents, says glaciologist Oliver Marsh.

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Can cause problems

It is possible that the iceberg could run aground again on the South Georgia Islands in the South Atlantic. This could be a major problem for the rich animal life on the islands, as it could reduce access to food in the sea for millions of seals, penguins and birds. A similar thing almost happened in 2020 with iceberg A68, but this was averted when the iceberg broke away.

– But an iceberg of this size has the potential to stay in the Southern Ocean for quite a long time, Marsh said.

According to glaciologists, this could reach South Africa, which could pose problems for shipping.