Iceberg A-81 slows after moving north into Scotia Sea
Iceberg A-81, recorded at 1,550 square kilometers, has moved into the Scotia Sea after more than three years in the Weddell Sea, and its movement has slowed.
- Iceberg A-81 has slowed after moving north into the Scotia Sea following more than three years in the Weddell Sea.
- The iceberg is recorded at 1,550 square kilometers and has a milestone listed as January 2023.
- Its forward motion became markedly slower, and it seemed to make contact with an undersea shelf.
- MODIS on NASA's Terra satellite records a milestone for A-81 dated 2026-10-20.
- Iceberg A-83 remains intact and is trailing A-81 northward while other icebergs clear the Weddell Sea.
What happened
Iceberg A-81 has moved north into the Scotia Sea after spending more than three years in the Weddell Sea. Its advance has slowed. South Georgia has previously slowed or stopped icebergs.
What we know
A-81 is recorded at 1,550 square kilometers, took its time becoming an iceberg, and has a milestone listed as January 2023.
It remained in the Weddell Sea for more than three years and moved with the clockwise Weddell Gyre.
It later moved north into the Scotia Sea.
A MODIS milestone is dated 2026-10-20, and MODIS is associated with NASA's Terra satellite.
The iceberg's forward motion has become markedly slower, and it seemed to make contact with an undersea shelf.
South Georgia has previously slowed icebergs and, in some cases, stopped them.
In 2025, Iceberg A-23A ran aground on the shelf and broke apart.
Iceberg A-83 remains intact and is trailing A-81 northward, while other icebergs appear to be clearing from the Weddell Sea.
Why it matters
The verified NASA connection is MODIS on NASA's Terra satellite, with a milestone dated 2026-10-20.
Sources
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