Thaindian News

By Gina Gomez
Feb 28, (THAINDIAN NEWS) According to reports, crash between an iceberg and a glacier, causing the ice berg to split off from an unexpected place, the cooler eastern end of Antarctica. The chunk of the ice was about 985-square mile, which broke off from the Mertz Glacier Tongue. The incident took place about 2 weeks back. The iceberg is reportedly of the size of “Luxembourg.” According to scientists, this could affect weather systems and disturb oceanic patterns.

According to Benoit Legresy, of the Laboratory for Geophysics and Oceanographic Space Research in Toulouse, France, the ice tongue was already broken. “It was hanging like a tooth.” Benoit Legresy further added, the iceberg was hanging for decades, it grew about 60 miles long and 18 miles wide. Benoit Legresy pointed out it was a slow process. Australian Antarctic Division glaciologist Neal Young reportedly said, an iceberg which split off way back in 1987 from another part of Antarctica, gave this ice berg a big push. The United States Geological survey as well as the British survey observed that the Antarctic peninsula is shrinking. The first measurements were taken 50 years back. If it is compared to the present, a loss of 8,000 square miles of ice can be noticed.

The iceberg can affect the production of “bottom water,” (cold salty water). In the long run, North Atlantic might experience cooler winters. Scientists said, the ice berg will not only affect human beings with climatic changes, it will also harm wildlife. A large number of Emperor penguins of Antarctica would face difficult finding food. Since there will be an decrease in supply of water, they will have to travel farther in search of food.