July 1, 2005, Washington D.C.-- The National Ice Center (NIC) discovered iceberg B-15B has calved creating an iceberg that meets criteria for naming and tracking by the NIC. ENVISAT Global Monitoring Mode (GMM) imagery first indicates calving on 24 June 2005 (Figure 1) and clearly shows a portion of the berg detached from B15B on 27 June 2005 (Figure 2). The new iceberg will be named B-15L, being the 11th occurrence that a portion of B-15 has calved. B-15L is currently located at 65.30S 123.29E, and measures 16NM x 07NM, based off ENVISAT GMM imagery from 30 June 2005.

Iceberg names are derived from the Antarctic quadrant in which they were originally sighted. The quadrants are divided counter-clockwise in the following manner:

A = 0-90W (Bellinghausen/Weddell Sea)
B = 90W-180 (Amundsen/Eastern Ross Sea)
C = 180-90E (Western Ross Sea/Wilkesland)
D = 90E-0 (Amery/Eastern Weddell Sea)

When first sighted, an iceberg's point of origin is documented by the NIC. The letter of the quadrant, along with a sequential number, is assigned to the iceberg. For example, A-53 is sequentially the 53rd iceberg tracked by the NIC in Antarctica between 0-90W (Quadrant A).

The National Ice Center is a tri-agency operational center represented by the United States Navy (Department of Defense), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Department of Commerce), and the United States Coast Guard (Department of Homeland Security). The National Ice Center mission is to provide worldwide operational ice analyses for the armed forces of the United States and allied nations, U.S. government agencies, and the private sector.

For more information, please contact:
National Ice Center
Naval Ice Center
Liaison Branch
Voice: 301-394-3100
E-mail: liaison@natice.noaa.gov