Iceberg B-17B was an iceberg twice the size of Manhattan,[1] that floated in the Southern Ocean approximately 1,700 kilometres (1,100 mi) off the coast of Western Australia. Iceberg B-17B measured approximately 140 square kilometres (54 sq mi).[2] B-17B originated in the first half of 2000 when the iceberg B17 split into two parts.[3] B17 itself had broken off from the Ross Ice Shelf two months before.[3]
Iceberg B-17B | |
|---|---|
 NOAA satellite image of Iceberg B-17B, December 11, 2009. | |
  Iceberg B-17B Iceberg B-17B in relation to Australia (Oceania) | |
| Coordinates: 48°47′59″S 107°30′02″E / 48.79972°S 107.50056°E | |
| Part of | Ross Ice Shelf (originally) |
| Offshore water bodies | Southern Ocean |
| Area | |
| • Total | 140 km2 (54 sq mi) (at break) |
In mid-December 2009 the Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning to users of shipping lanes in the area.[1][4] By the 31st of that month the main body of the iceberg had broken into three pieces.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Giant iceberg heading toward Australia. CNN. Accessed 2009-12-9.
- ^ Monster iceberg shedding hundreds of offshoots| yahoo! News
- ^ a b c "Iceberg B17B in the Southern Ocean". acecrc.org.au. Antarctic climate & ecosystems cooperative research centre. 31 December 2009. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- ^ "Shipping alert issued over giant iceberg". Associated Press. 2009-12-11. Retrieved 2009-12-11.