Sydney: A large iceberg was spotted off an
island about halfway between Antarctica and Australia, a rare
sight in waters so far north, Australian scientists said
on Thursday.
Australian Antarctic Division researchers working on
Macquarie Island, about 1,500 kilometres southeast of
Tasmania, first saw the iceberg last Thursday about 8
kilometres off the northwest coast of the island.
The iceberg, about 160 feet high and 1,640 feet long, is
probably part of one of several larger icebergs that broke off
Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf between 2000 and 2002, Australian
Antarctic Division glaciologist Neal Young said.
Several icebergs have been drifting slowly northward with
the ocean current toward the island over the past year, but it
is uncommon for them to move so far into warmer northern
waters, he said.
The scientists believe the iceberg will break up and melt
rapidly as it continues its journey north.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 09:21