When satellite images sound the alarm

Thanks to their size, these icebergs can be seen from the International Space Station (ISS). ESA astronaut Andrea Mogensen recently shared these photos on Twitter.

Beautiful shots…

“If someone had told me before this mission that I would be able to see space icebergs with the naked eye, I would have said: Impossible.Since then, the astronaut has actually changed his mind, attributing the feat to the contrast in color between the ocean and the icebergs and their distinctive shape.

Tip of the iceberg

I have to admit that if you had asked me before this mission if you could see icebergs with your naked eye from space, I would have said: “No way.”

Show that you can! We’ve been seeing a lot of icebergs lately in the South Atlantic. Maybe he… pic.twitter.com/qGY2CUCSfp

– Andreas Mogensen (@Astro_Andreas) December 3, 2023

In Andrea Morgensen’s images, we can see three main icebergs, with several other icebergs floating alongside them. Interestingly, from the perspective of the ISS, the submerged surface of the iceberg is also visible. You can see in the pictures the waves crashing around the parts that emerged.

…The role of whistleblowers

However, the aesthetic aspect of the image should not be used as an excuse to distract from the core prevention message: ocean temperatures are warming and their levels are rising. “The Maldives, for example, are doomed to extinction in 70 years, when they become submerged.” Andrea Morgensen adds. A vicious circle occurs between salt water and ice: drifting icebergs end up completely melting in the oceans, which also contributes to rising water levels.

Read also >> What happened to the largest iceberg in the world?

Astronauts and satellite images have observed several drifting icebergs recently. The world’s largest iceberg, nicknamed A23a, was also spotted drifting out of Antarctic waters. She had been immobile for over thirty years. Having weakened in strength, it now had the buoyancy needed to drift toward the South Atlantic.

These observations are very useful so that scientists can analyze the paths of icebergs and better predict the impacts they could have on our environment or on sea routes.

source : Space.com website