A massive iceberg dubbed A-23A, once the largest and longest-lived berg ever tracked by scientists, has turned blue due to meltwater pouring out of its cracks. The ice giant, a tabular iceberg that broke off from Antarctica's Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986, is now sopping wet and on the verge of complete disintegration as it drifts through the South Atlantic Ocean.
The MODIS image captured by NASA's Terra satellite shows an extensive pool of blue meltwater covering nearly the entire surface of A-23A. The berg's edges are warped upward, forming a "rampart-moat" pattern caused by meltwater pooling at the top of the iceberg and creating pressure at its edges.
Scientists say that the signs on the image suggest the berg could disintegrate completely in days or weeks. This is because warmer air and water temperatures during the Antarctic summer accelerate the melting process, making it an area known as a "graveyard" for icebergs.
The MODIS image captured by NASA's Terra satellite shows an extensive pool of blue meltwater covering nearly the entire surface of A-23A. The berg's edges are warped upward, forming a "rampart-moat" pattern caused by meltwater pooling at the top of the iceberg and creating pressure at its edges.
Scientists say that the signs on the image suggest the berg could disintegrate completely in days or weeks. This is because warmer air and water temperatures during the Antarctic summer accelerate the melting process, making it an area known as a "graveyard" for icebergs.
. I mean, can't these massive chunks of ice just chill out in the ocean for once? It's like they're just begging to break off into smaller pieces and disappear forever 
. And now we've got scientists trying to predict when it'll all come crashing down, like it's some kind of iceberg apocalypse 
. I'm not saying I don't care about climate change or whatever, but can't we just focus on finding a solution instead of watching these ice giants die off one by one? It's just so... repetitive 
.
I'm low-key shocked that A-23A is literally turning into a blue puddle 
But seriously, it's kinda sad to see this massive iceberg break apart 
. Like, we're already losing icebergs left and right in the Arctic, can't they just leave some alone in Antarctica? 
But honestly, it's kinda cool that NASA's got eyes on this from space 
! Maybe we can learn more about how to save our oceans & stop climate change 
. Anyone else think this is a major warning sign? 
.
A massive iceberg just turned BLUE from all the meltwater pouring out of its cracks !! 
we should just focus on saving the planet instead of wasting time on icebergs 
I'm sure our planet is totally fine. And, omg, that "rampart-moat" pattern? So cool! 
I bet the scientists have nothing better to do than to spend their days studying the intricacies of melting icebergs. Can't they just go enjoy a nice summer BBQ or something? 
Anyway, gotta keep an eye on this guy... it's like watching a slow-motion train wreck that you can't look away from 
! Scientists are all like "oh no iceberg might disappear in days" 
but I'm over here thinking we should've taken care of the planet sooner 
. We should be worried about our oceans, not just icebergs 
. I mean, can you imagine if the whole of Antarctica went blue? 
And what's with all these "scientists say" things? Are they trying to hide something from us? 
I mean, don't get me wrong, climate change is real, but this iceberg thingy seems like a big PR stunt to me... maybe we're just getting fed some info to make us feel good while the real agenda unfolds? 
what if A-23A isn't actually melting because of climate change, but something else entirely? 
. The blue color is so intense, like someone poured an entire bucket of Skye Blue paint all over it 
. I'm a little sad for the iceberg, but at the same time, I guess this means we'll see some epic ocean views soon 
. It's also pretty mind-blowing to think about how fast this thing is melting due to warmer temps. Scientists are saying weeks? That's like, ice-bergs-disappearing-fast 
!
Have you guys ever been? It's supposed to be literally breathtaking, right?! The glaciers and waterfalls... anyway, back to the iceberg thing... whoa, it's crazy how fast these things can melt. Reminds me of when my car broke down last summer in the middle of nowhere. Had to wait for hours for a tow truck to show up. Anyway, icebergs are pretty cool, I guess. Not like they're still around for that long though... 
. It makes sense that warmer air & water temps would melt it down quickly since we all know how crazy Antarctica summers are 
. The fact that scientists say it could disintegrate in days or weeks is just wild. Its a shame because I know how long this berg has been floating around - 39 years! And now its going to just disappear into the sea