Observing the disintegration of the A68A iceberg from space

Braakmann-Folgmann, A.; Shepherd, A.; Gerrish, L. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1410-9122; Izzard, J.; Ridout, A.. 2022 Observing the disintegration of the A68A iceberg from space. Remote Sensing of Environment, 270, 112855. 9, pp. 10.1016/j.rse.2021.112855

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Abstract/Summary

Icebergs impact the physical and biological properties of the ocean where they drift, depending on the degree of melting. We use satellite imagery and altimetry to quantify the area, thickness, and volume change of the massive A68A iceberg from its calving off the Larsen-C Ice Shelf in July 2017 until January 2021, when it disintegrated. A68A thinned from 235 ± 9 to 168 ± 10 m, on average, and lost 802 ± 34 Gt of ice in 3.5 years, 254 ± 17 Gt of which was through basal melting (a lower bound for the immediate fresh water input into the ocean). Basal melting peaked at 7.2 ± 2.3 m/month in the Northern Scotia Sea and an estimated 152 ± 61 Gt of freshwater was released off South Georgia, potentially altering the local ocean properties, plankton occurrence and conditions for predators.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.rse.2021.112855
ISSN:	00344257
Additional Keywords:	Tabular icebergs, Basal melting, Satellite altimetry,, ICESat-2, CryoSat-2, Freshwater flux, Mass loss, South Georgia, A68
Date made live:	17 Jan 2022 10:13 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/531761

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