World's Largest Iceberg A23a Remains Stationary

The world's largest iceberg, A23a, is currently trapped in a spinning vortex known as a Taylor Column, located just north of the South Orkney Islands. Initially breaking away from Antarctica in 1986, A23a began to drift in 2020 but has recently halted its movement, rotating counterclockwise at a rate of approximately 15 degrees per day. This unexpected behavior results from ocean currents interacting with the Pirie Bank, which creates a swirling current that prevents the iceberg from reaching warmer waters where it would normally melt. Scientists are intrigued by this phenomenon, as it provides a rare opportunity to study the dynamics of large icebergs in the ocean. Experts have noted that A23a, now approximately 4,000 square kilometers in size, defies typical expectations of iceberg behavior, leading to speculation about how long it might remain in its current state. The continuing observation of A23a is being supported by international monitoring efforts, including those from the Copernicus space station.