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ICEBERG C-19 BREAKS OFF ROSS ICE SHELF IN ANTARCTICA

May 14, 2002 — The National Ice Center in Suitland, Md., can now confirm size and position of new iceberg C-19. This iceberg follows the C-18 iceberg of last week. Both icebergs broke off from the Ross Ice Shelf, a large sheet of glacial ice and snow extending from the Antarctic mainland into the southern Ross Sea. (Click satellite image for larger view of iceberg C-19 taken May 11, 2002.)

The exact location of the center of iceberg C-19 is 77.23 South, 173.30 East; its dimensions are108 nm (nautical miles) long by 17 nm wide. The iceberg was spotted by the National Ice Center using the latest satellite image from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program's Operational Line Scan 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 (Bellinghausen/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 Transportation). 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.

Relevant Web Sites
Iceberg C-19 Image — Defense Meteorological Satellite Program's Operational Line Scan Visible sensor 959 x 719 pixels

Defense Meteorological Satellite Program

Archived Satellite Images, Storm Animations and Special Events, Including Icebergs

Media Contacts:
Patricia Viets, NOAA Satellite and Data Service, (301) 457-5005 or Christopher O'Connors, National Ice Center, (301) 457-5303 ext. 306

 

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