Scientists expect a large iceberg to break off from the Amery Ice Shelf within the next 5–10 years

Interfax reported this, citing Makarov’s remarks to journalists on Wednesday. According to him, the iceberg is roughly 25 by 80 km.

Makarov noted that over a 10–20-year horizon, a greater number of icebergs, including large ones, may form in this area. He linked this to the penetration of warm deep waters into the shelf glaciers of the Southern Ocean, which speeds up their discharge.

At the same time, the scientist stressed that it is impossible to name the day or even the year of such an event, and that this is a qualitative assessment of probability. He added that over a 10-year horizon, such events are very likely.

Makarov called the Antarctic Peninsula the part of Antarctica most open to warming. In particular, over five years, the temperature of deep waters in the Bransfield Strait, according to him, rose by 0.3 degrees.

The Amery Ice Shelf is located in the eastern part of Antarctica. Its area is about 62.6 thousand sq. km, and in size it is surpassed only by the Ross and Ronne-Filchner ice shelves.

Sources

• Interfax