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Iceberg D-20 Calves off Ingrid Christensen Coast |
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National Ice Center, Washington, DC USA
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Last Update:
February 17, 2009
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| February 07, 2009, Washington D.C.- The National
Ice Center (NIC) has designated iceberg D-20 along the Ingrid Christensen
coast (Amery Sea) of Antarctica. Imagery in this area is often cloud
covered and though the crack has been previously noted, it was difficult
to determine if the berg had completely calved. MODIS and ESA ENVISAT
imagery from the 31st of January and 2nd of February 2009, respectively,
indicate that the berg has indeed calved. Iceberg D-20 has been fasted
in this area for many years, but newer imagery types (Envisat) has
made the location and calving of icebergs more apparent to the analyst.
D-20 is centered at 69.40S 74.40W. The iceberg measures 10 nautical miles on its long axis and 6 nautical miles on its wide axis. Aerographer’s Mate Third Class Shawn Mulholland located D-20 using the February 2, 2009 Envisat imagery shown below from the European Space Agency. Ms. Caryn Panowicz, NIC Operations Technical Advisor, confirmed the location of D-20. Iceberg names are derived from the Antarctic quadrant in which
they were originally sighted. The quadrants are divided counter-clockwise
in the following manner: 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, D-20 is sequentially the 20th iceberg tracked by the NIC in Antarctica between 90E-0 (Quadrant D). |
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