The world's largest glacier is melting: how long does it have to live? | the world

The world's largest glacier is on the verge of melting “The last months of his existence“, according to international media BBC. It is significant A23a Separated from the Antarctic coast in 1986, but started moving In the end 2023 After 30 years anchored at sea in the cut.

The world's largest glacier may disappear

A cruise ship Ios British media reported the presence of enormous caves and arches. This happens due to the heating of air and water A23aIt has been moving from Antarctica since the end of 2023.

It is notable that it broke away from the largest glacier in the world Antarctic coast In 1986 and its move began 4,000 km^{2surface A few months ago. Currently, it is Antarctic Circumpolar CurrentOn the way to “Glacier Alley”, the main ice outlet of the White Continent}

The constant movement of the massive ice sheet will determine its marine life; However, the BBC The fate of the glacier is determined to “fragment and wither until it disappears.” According to StrachanTour leader of the team Ios That was on the surface A23a, “Snowfalls are created”, in addition to “a steady state of erosion”..

How long will A23a survive?

period of time A23a It will be determined by the temperature it passes through during the time it is in motion, because too much heat in the air or water will melt the ice to form pools, which will drain through the glacier and facilitate the opening. Cracks causing segregation.

The BBC predicts that caves and arches located on the glacier's surface will collapse, leaving submerged icebergs that rise due to their own buoyancy and then eat away at the edges of the massive ice sheet. Something he had already experienced. Glacier D28: It is located in the South Atlantic and has lost a third of its surface area.

“Dramatic and beautiful to photograph”

On Sunday, January 14, a ship belonging to the Eyos expedition company approached the A23a and traveled until it placed a drone on it. With this, the team appreciated the 30 meter high glacier. “It was dramatic and beautiful to photograph“Richard Saidi, Eyos' videographer, said according to DW. “It's mind-blowingly big. Indeed, I think we cannot imagine its extent; We can only thank science. It's too big to photograph. “It stretches as far as the eye can see in both directions,” he added.

Thanks to satellite vision, the thickness can be measured and the surface can be controlled, which is more than 300 meters in some points. The mass is questionable because it decreases daily, although scientists now estimate it to be not far from a billion tons.

After how long did A23a start moving?

The world's largest iceberg, also known as A23a, has begun its journey towards the South Atlantic after being stranded on the shores of Antarctica until 2020. In 1986, a large ice sheet broke off the Antarctic coast and settled in the Weddell Sea for more than 30 years.