The world's largest iceberg is stuck twirling in an ocean vortex

[sl8]

https://www.npr.org/2024/08/10/nx-s1-5069771/iceberg-a23a-spinning-ocean-vortex-trapped-taylor-column

The world's largest iceberg is stuck twirling in an ocean vortex

AUGUST 10, 2024 7:08 PM ET
Juliana Kim

[...]

For more than 30 years, the giant frozen block — equivalent to the size of Rhode Island — was grounded on the sea floor in Antarctic coastal waters. It finally freed itself in 2020 and started heading to the open ocean this past winter.

But a few months into A23a's journey, onlookers were stunned at what they saw: the iceberg spinning in circles.

[...]

Its dance moves likely are caused by a phenomenon in fluid mechanics known as a Taylor Column. Its essentially a rotating cylinder that forms when there's an obstruction in a flow. In other words, A23a is trapped in a kind of ocean vortex.

Till Wagner, a professor in University of Wisconsin-Madison who studies how ice interacts with climate, said he has never seen a real-life example of this phenomenon on such a massive scale.

[embedded British Antarctic Survey Instagram post: ]
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3Un_iVqk6Q/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=47e17e8c-666e-454e-b31a-b203108cd462

[...]

[malaise]

1. Fascinating

Thanks

[MiHale]

2. Natures way of 'swirling' the glass...

to cool down the drink faster? First thing that came to mind.

[twodogsbarking]

3. Climate change, global warming, sizzling planet.

Your lobster will come out of the ocean pre-cooked soon.

[et tu]

4. with a heaping side

of micro plastics

[Hermit-The-Prog]

7. On the plus side, we will have a plastic road to Hawai'i.

[et tu]

9. will there be

anyone left to travel there??? aloha

[Hermit-The-Prog]

11. Cockroaches will appreciate our legacy.

[DFW]

12. Not ALL cockroaches....

[et tu]

13. ty for posting

[BattleRow]

5. When I saw worlds largest iceberg

I thought this was the momentum of the Harris Walz campaign ....

[FailureToCommunicate]

6. Ha! Thought this was a headline about Trump and his campaign!

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

8. that's so interesting

[Emile]

10. We need to exile Trump to this floating island.