Images
October 15, 2017 - Iceberg A68A off the Larsen C ice shelf, Antarctica
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In July, 2017, a long crack along the edge of the Larsen C Ice Shelf expanded, giving birth to a Delaware-sized iceberg. As spring arrives in Antarctica, Iceberg A68A has begun to slowly drift away from the mother ice shelf.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image of A68A in bright spring sunlight on October 10.
Pushed by winds, tides, and currents, the south end of the iceberg has drifted further from the ice shelf than has the north end. Frazil ice, a thin layer of ice which does not offer much resistance to movement, is the primary component that floats in the gap between Larsen C and A686. In addition, several small icebergs and “bergy bits” (medium to large fragments of ice) also float in the ever-widening gap between the calving shelf and the iceberg.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 10/10/2017
Resolutions:
500m (24.5 KB), 250m (63.6 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
In July, 2017, a long crack along the edge of the Larsen C Ice Shelf expanded, giving birth to a Delaware-sized iceberg. As spring arrives in Antarctica, Iceberg A68A has begun to slowly drift away from the mother ice shelf.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image of A68A in bright spring sunlight on October 10.
Pushed by winds, tides, and currents, the south end of the iceberg has drifted further from the ice shelf than has the north end. Frazil ice, a thin layer of ice which does not offer much resistance to movement, is the primary component that floats in the gap between Larsen C and A686. In addition, several small icebergs and “bergy bits” (medium to large fragments of ice) also float in the ever-widening gap between the calving shelf and the iceberg.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 10/10/2017
Resolutions:
500m (24.5 KB), 250m (63.6 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
