December 16, 2003, Washington D.C.-- The National Ice Center (NIC) confirms that Iceberg B-15K has calved off B-15A east-northeast of Ross Island in the Ross Sea. B-15K is currently located alongside B-15A near 76.44S, 168E, measuring 31.5 NM long X 5 NM wide. Ms. Judy Shaffier, a NIC senior Ice Analyst/Ice Forecaster, confirmed the calving of Iceberg B-15K using the Defense Meteorological Satellite (DMSP) Operational-line Scan (OLS) (Figure 1) and a snapshot of National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) AQUA Satellite (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