Earlier this year, the A23A glacier was as big as the whole Zlín region. However, the largest glacier of the world is now disappearing quickly and, according to scientists, may disappear completely in just a few weeks. A23A is one of the largest and oldest glaciers ever recorded. He broke away from Filchner’s glacier in Antarctica in August 1986.
After break, he settled at the bottom of the Weddell Sea, where he remained stuck for more than 30 years. It was not until 2020 that he relaxed and began to carry to the north. On his way, it was carried by the strongest ocean stream in the world – Antarctic Circuplar Current. In March this year, the glacier was stuck near the island of South Georgia, which caused concern that there would be a threat to the penguin nest. In May, however, he relaxed and continued his journey north.
At the beginning of the year A23a had an area of 4,000 square kilometers. What is approximately the size of the Zlín region, and Estimated weight of one trillion ton-about 100 times the weight of the Eiffel Tower. Now it has been reduced to 1,800 square kilometers, which is approximately the size of the district of Jindřichův Hradec.
“It disintegrates quite dramatically. It is very likely to be at the end of his journey … practically drowning from below. The water is now too warm for it. It is constantly drowning,” He said the physical Oceanograph Andrew Meijers of the British Antarctic Survey, according to The Mail.
The ice shelf is falling apart into huge pieces and smaller fragments that can still pose a threat to shipping. “I expect this process to continue in the coming weeks and that Soon you will no longer be able to identify an ice shelf, ” Dodal Meijers.
