The mega-iceberg A53a (upper image) measured close to 50 kilometers by 22 kilometers, about seven times the area of Manhattan Island, in mid-January 2008 when astronauts took the photographs for this mosaic. The images were acquired from the International Space Station (ISS), located 780 kilometers to the north of the iceberg at an altitude of 341 kilometers; the perspective distorts the oblong shape of the iceberg, making it look squarer than it actually is.
Published Feb 25, 2008
This image could be a scene out of a spooky movie, but the reality is just as morbid.
Published Oct 31, 2018
After an 18-year voyage, a fragment of the largest iceberg ever recorded has drifted into dangerously warm territory.
Published Jun 6, 2018
In April 2005, the A53a iceberg calved off the Larsen Ice Shelf and began drifting north. Nearly three years later, it began to disintegrate.
Published Mar 20, 2008
In March 2006, a team of researchers from the United States and Argentina visited an iceberg near the Antarctic Peninsula in order to gain a better understanding of how ice melts and disintegrates when it encounters warmer areas.
Published Mar 9, 2006
An unnamed berg of unknown origin drifted in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Published Dec 14, 2014
B-15J, a long-lived Antarctic iceberg, broke into small pieces in early December 2011, after drifting into warmer waters.
Published Dec 7, 2011
Acquired September 29, 2012, this natural-color image shows South Georgia Island and nearby icebergs.
Published Oct 6, 2012
In early 2015, a new berg broke free from the Getz Ice Shelf.
Published Apr 21, 2015
In January, 2004, astronauts on board the International Space Station took this detailed picture of melt water pooled on the surface of iceberg A-39D, a 2-kilometer wide, 11-kilometer long iceberg and drifting near South Georgia Island. The different intensities of blue are interpreted as different water depths. From the orientation of the iceberg, the deepest water (darkest blue) lies at the westernmost end of the iceberg. The water pools have formed from snowmelt—late January is the peak of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
Published Mar 15, 2004
The huge Antarctic iceberg has floated into warmer waters, but it is still mostly intact.
Published Apr 20, 2020
These photographs, taken from the International Space Station in January, 2004, show two pieces of a massive iceberg that broke off from the Ronne Ice Shelf in October, 1998. The pieces of iceberg A-38 have floated relatively close to South Georgia Island. After 5 years and 3 months adrift, they are approximately 1,500 nautical miles from their origin. In the oblique image, taken a few minutes later, the cloud pattern reveals the impact of the mountainous islands on the local wind field. At this time, the icebergs are sheltered in the lee side of the island.
Published Jan 26, 2004
Iceberg A-68A has moved a relatively short distance in the year since it calved from the Larsen C Ice Shelf.
Published Jul 13, 2018Image of the Day Water Snow and Ice Remote Sensing Sea and Lake Ice
Astronauts on the ISS captured an unusual, airplane-like view of the Antarctic Peninsula and nearby islands.
Published Dec 5, 2011
In January 2015, a new iceberg broke off from an ice shelf in East Antarctica that had otherwise been quiet for decades.
Published Feb 7, 2015
