Antarctic iceberg A-81 has reached the underwater shelf of South Georgia island. The berg, which measures approximately 1,550 square kilometers, separated from the Brunt Ice Shelf in January 2023.
After detaching, the iceberg spent over three years within the Weddell Sea before moving north toward the Antarctic Peninsula by May 2026. It eventually entered the Scotia Sea.
By late October 2026, the iceberg reached a location 2,300 kilometers from its point of origin. Satellite imagery from the MODIS instrument on NASA’s Terra satellite confirms its current position.
Experts note that the iceberg's drift has slowed as it encounters the shallow shelf of South Georgia. Similar events have occurred previously, such as the grounding of iceberg A-23A in 2025.
The Brunt Ice Shelf has experienced multiple calving events, including the release of A-74 in 2021 and A-83 in 2024. The latter is currently following the path of A-81 northward.
