November 1, 2005, Washington D.C.-- The National Ice Center (NIC) discovered that iceberg B-15A has calved three icebergs that meet criteria for naming and tracking by the NIC. DMSP OLS Visible imagery first indicated calving on 30 October 2005 (Figure 1) and shows a portion of the berg detached from B15A. DMSP OLS Visible imagery clarity improves on 31 October 2005 and shows further calving of two additional bergs that meet NIC naming criteria (Figure 2). The new icebergs will be named B-15M, B-15N, and B-15P (the letter ‘O’ is not used so it will not be confused with the number zero). These icebergs mark the 12th to 14th occurrence that a portion of B-15 has calved. B-15M is currently located at 71°15’S 170°42’E, and measures 27NM x 03NM. B-15N is currently located at 72°00’S 171°55’E, and measures 33NM x 07NM. B-15P is currently located at 71°58’S 171°39’E, and measures 10NM x 02NM.

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, B-15 is sequentially the 15th iceberg tracked by the NIC in Antarctica between 90W - 180 (Quadrant B).

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