Antarctic Icebergs
The large icebergs break off from the Antarctic ice shelf. They then swim North and are driven by the East-West flow through the Polar Ocean. Their speed is about 12 km per day. If an iceberg reaches the Antarctic Convergence, their direction reverse because of the West Wind Drift – they swimm from West to East.
Icebergs forms from valley glaciers (weird forms) and from the inland ice (tabular icebergs). The largest tabular icebergs is huge: 150km * 40km. The largest part of the iceberg is under water and only 15-20% is visible. There are 3 different iceberg types depending on their age:
Tabular icebergs: These are young icebergs. Their surface is flat and smooth.
Uneven icebergs: These icebergs have long been exposed to erosion. The parts above the water level are usually pointed, but there are also even parts.
Rounded icebergs: These represent the oldest iceberg type. They have been almost completely rounded by erosion. Some of these icebergs become unstable and tip over.
[…] That’s terrific! I love Punta Arenas… It is from there that I embarked my research vessel to Antarctica! […]
[…] These beautiful blue stripes occur when a crevice in the iceberg fills up with water, which freezes so quickly that no bubbles form. Green stripes can form when algae attaches to an iceberg as it falls into the sea. Brown, black and yellow lines are caused by sediment that is picked up when the berg first travels down hills into the sea. You can watch some more pictures of icebergs here. […]
[…] Antarctica Icebergs […]