Icebergs, Arctic Circle

Icebergs in the Arctic are fascinating natural wonders and make terrific photographic subjects.

They begin through a process called “calving”, when chunks of ice break off from glaciers.  Arctic glaciers move slowly toward the sea, and as they reach the water, cracks from under pressure, causing pieces to break away and float off as icebergs.  These can range in size from small to several miles long.  They’re also deceptive – about 90% of their mass stays hidden below the surface. 

Most Arctic icebergs, especially those drifting into the North Atlantic, come from Greenland’s west coast.  Once they’ve broken off, they travel through cold Arctic waters, melting slowly as they go.  As icebergs drift and melt, they release freshwater into the ocean, lowering salinity and potentially disrupting local currents and influencing weather patterns.

Icebergs also serve as temporary habitats for Arctic wildlife like seals and seabirds, offering shelter and resting spots.  But as temperatures rise and melting accelerates, this balance is being disrupted, contributing to sea level rise and altering the ecosystems that depend on these icy giants.

One of the most famous icebergs in history is the one that collided with the RMS Titanic in 1912.  It likely originated in a fjord on the southwest coast of Greenland and drifted south into the busy shipping lanes of the North Atlantic.  As the Titanic moved at high speed through icv waters, it struck the iceberg, causing a fatal rupture in its hull and sinking the ship in just 2 hours and 40 minutes.  In response to the tragedy, the International Ice Patrol (IIP) was established in 1914 to monitor iceberg dangers in the North Atlantic and help prevent similar disasters.