World’s Biggest Iceberg To Soon Collide With Atlantic Island Wiping Out King Penguin Population

by Tania Tarafdar
World’s Biggest Iceberg To Soon Collide With Atlantic Island Wiping Out King Penguin Population

We cannot ignore global warming and climatic change any more. It is high time we pull up our socks and start taking actions. In what seems like a disaster, the world’s most giant iceberg is heading toward South Georgia Island in the southern Atlantic and a possible collision could devastate the wildlife population. The iceberg which is about the same size as the island itself has advanced over two years since it broke from the Antarctic peninsula in 2017. Scientists have long been aware of this climate-related event.

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A68a Is World’s Largest Ice Berg

The peninsula is also one of the fastest-warming places on earth. Sadly, it had registered a record high temperature of 20.75 degrees Celsius. Scientists have long been warning about the melting of ice and higher sea levels worldwide. The gigantic iceberg named A68a is on a path to collide with South Georgia Island, which is a remote British overseas territory near the southern tip of South America. UAE Will Tow Icebergs From Antarctica For Upcoming Project.

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The Collision Is Inevitable

However, scientists can’t precisely detect the time of the collision. The ocean currents made the iceberg speed up and slowed down along the way. The collision will likely be avoided if the winds carry the iceberg past the island. The currents can take the iceberg in one direction or another away from South Georgia. That said, the iceberg is just 50 kilometres away from the south shelf edge that the collision is almost inevitable. Scientists Find Cleanest Air On Earth & It’s Near Antarctica.

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The Ice Berg Can Crush 2 Million Penguins

Scientists fear that the iceberg could crush marine life, including coral, sponges and plankton. If it lodges at the island’s flank, it could block seals along with 2 million penguins from their regular foraging routes.
Some species, like the King penguins, travel for up to 16 days for food. If the berg gets in the way, the penguins can find it challenging to sustain. A collision can wipe out half of king penguin’s population on the island.

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Let the worse not happen.