May 05, 2003, Washington D.C.-- The National Ice Center (NIC) confirms that iceberg C-19 is once again on the move in the Ross Sea (Figure 1). For several months, C-19 has maintained an unstable position just to the east of Coulman Island. Imagery from May 6, 2003 shows that C-19 has moved 44NM to the north-northwest toward Cape Adare since April 30, 2003. Although the location of the center point of C-19 cannot be determined due to cloud cover, the center of the northern edge of C-19 is near 72S 172E. C-19 measures 109NM long by 17NM wide. The NIC confirmed the movement of C-19 using the satellite image shown from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) Infrared sensor.

May 09, 2003, Washington D.C.-- The National Ice Center (NIC) confirms that a new iceberg has recently calved from Iceberg C-19 (Figure 2). The new iceberg is named C-19B and is currently located near 72.6S 172.2E, measuring 16NM X 3NM. The NIC confirmed the calving of C-19B using the satellite image shown from NOAA's AVHRR Infrared sensor.

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, C-19 is sequentially the 19th iceberg tracked by the NIC in Antarctica between 180-90E (Quadrant C).

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
voice: 301-394-3063
e-mail: liaison@natice.noaa.gov