Penguins and Seals in Danger... World's Largest Iceberg, 6.61 Times the Size of Seoul, Feared to Collide with Island

Iceberg 'A23a' Moves Toward South Georgia Island
Potential Ecological Impact if It Collides With or Blocks Island Passage

The iceberg 'A23a,' weighing over 1 trillion tons and considered the world's largest iceberg, is moving toward the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia Island. If A23a collides with the island or blocks the passage to it, significant damage to the ecosystem is expected.

On the 24th (local time), foreign media including the Associated Press reported, "There are concerns that the world's largest iceberg A23a may collide with the South Atlantic island," adding, "Currently, the iceberg is moving along the ocean currents toward the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia Island in the southern Atlantic."

A23a weighs over 1 trillion tons and, as of August last year, measured 3,672 km², approximately 6.6 times the area of Seoul, making it the largest iceberg in the world. This iceberg separated from the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in West Antarctica in 1986 and was trapped around the seabed north of the South Orkney Islands and the Weddell Sea. However, after breaking free from the Weddell Sea in December last year, the iceberg began moving along the ocean currents toward South Georgia Island in the southern Atlantic.

The A23a iceberg (the white area in the center) captured by a NASA satellite. Photo by AP Yonhap News

Initially, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), which studied this iceberg, predicted, "If this iceberg reaches South Georgia Island, it may break into small pieces and completely melt." However, contrary to their expectations, recent satellite images estimating the iceberg's size confirmed that it still maintains its massive size.

Experts warn that if this iceberg collides with South Georgia Island or blocks nearby passages, thousands of animals such as penguins and seals inhabiting the island could starve to death, raising concerns about adverse ecological impacts. Dr. Andrew Myers, a physical oceanographer at BAS, explained, "South Georgia Island is home to millions of penguins and seals and has a very well-established ecological environment. There are many penguin and seal pups here, and they need their parents' help to survive."

He added, "Usually, penguins and seals dive deep underwater to find food for their pups, but if the iceberg blocks the passage, parent animals have to swim farther, which exhausts them and ultimately reduces the food available for the pups. In such situations, unfortunately, the survival rate of the pups may decrease."

South Georgia Island in the South Atlantic is 167.4 km long and 1.4 to 3.7 km wide. Since 1963, the island has served as a base for Antarctic research and currently hosts BAS's biological research station.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.