October 9, 2003, Washington D.C.-- The National Ice Center (NIC) confirms that Iceberg B-15A broke into two pieces east northeast of Ross Island in the Ross Sea. The larger iceberg retains B-15A as its name and the smaller iceberg is named B-15J. B-15A is currently located near 76.35S 169E, measuring 67.7NM long X 18NM wide. B-15J is currently located near 77.13S 169E, and measures 25NM long X 20NM wide. Ms. Judy Shaffier, a NIC senior Ice Analyst/Ice Forecaster, discovered the breaking of Iceberg B15A while surveying the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) AQUA Satellite imagery (Figure 1). Ms. Shaffier confirmed the breaking of Iceberg B-15A using the satellite image shown from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) infrared imagery (Figure 2).

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

When an iceberg is first sighted, NIC documents its point of origin. 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:
Public Affairs Officer
National Ice Center
Naval Ice Center
Liaison
voice: 301-394-3063
e-mail: liaison@natice.noaa.gov