New iceberg adrift off Antarctica
A 233-square-mile iceberg has broken off the Pine Island Glacier in the Antarctic, the National Ice Centre reported.
The iceberg, about 25 miles long and nine miles wide, tore away from the ice shelf sometime between November 10 and November 11 and is drifting northwest in the Amundsen Sea, the Centre said.
Detected on Thursday by satellites sensors, the new iceberg was located in the vicinity of 75 degree south latitude and 103 degrees east longitude.
Because of increased melting, new icebergs have been discovered with increased frequency in recent years in Antarctica. Four massive icebergs broke away from the ice shelf in April and May of last year.
The National Ice Centre is jointly operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Coast Guard and the Navy. It tracks icebergs via satellite in the event warnings need to be issued to mariners.
