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Why the iceberg
calving of Antarctica
is special
 Calving occurs when a colossal chunk of ice breaks
off a thick ice shelf to become an iceberg. This natural phenomenon occurs in
both polar regions, but is most awesome on Antarctica.
Iceberg calving
tips & insights
My
map pinpoints one of the foremost iceberg calving regions. However, the
spectacle occurs along many Antarctica coasts.
Iceberg
calving is more intense in the Antarctic than in the Artic because its ice
shelves (see photo) are significantly higher.
Some
Antarctica ice shelves rise 300 meters (1000 feet) above the water.
A
glacier calves when there is insufficient ice below the water line of the
glacier's facade to support the weight of the corresponding ice above the water
line. The undermining is caused by the comparatively warm seawater, which slowly
melts the ice it touches.
A
calving iceberg is spectacular to see but can be dangerous because its creates a
mini tsunami that's capable of capsizing a nearby boat. There's seldom any
warning. When you here the telltale cracking sound, the nascent iceberg has
already begun to break off the glacier's face.
Once
calved, an iceberg can calve, too. That's one critical reason you don't want to
get too close to an iceberg. The other is that an iceberg by nature is unstable.
It can suddenly roll over, with its submerged part (which is seven times larger
than the exposed portion) hitting your boat. If it misses your boat, the huge
wave created by the topsyturvy rotation could swamp your boat.
Like
fingerprints, not two icebergs are identically shaped.
Clickable Antarctica
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What it's like
on an Antarctica
cruise ship
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