The Beauty of the Antarctic

The Beauty of the Antarctic

Credit: Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

Shown above is an iceberg in Gerlache Strait. Photographer: Rear Admiral Harley D. Nygren, NOAA Corps (ret.).

Huge Block of Ice

Huge Block of Ice

Credit: Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

Pictured above is an iceberg off the Antarctic Peninsula. The size of the iceberg appears to be similar to that of a cruise ship. Photographer: Commander Richard Behn, NOAA Corps.

Mysterious and Captivating

Mysterious and Captivating

Credit: Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

An iceberg sits in the middle of the cool Arctic waters. Photographer: Michael Van Woert, NOAA NESDIS, ORA.

On the Move

On the Move

Credit: Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

The image shows an Iceberg drifting slowly across the waters. Photographer: Michael Van Woert, NOAA NESDIS, ORA.

Massive Chunk

Massive Chunk

Credit: Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

Above is a photograph of a large tabular iceberg off the Antarctic Peninsula. Photographer: Commander Richard Behn, NOAA Corps.

Stranded

Stranded

Credit: Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

Icebergs grounded on Pennel Bank. Photographer: Michael Van Woert, NOAA NESDIS, ORA.

Closing In

Closing In

Credit: Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

Close-up of Icebergs grounded on Pennel Bank. Photographer: Michael Van Woert, NOAA NESDIS, ORA.

Follow the Leader

Follow the Leader

Credit: Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

Note the arches in the icebergs off the Antarctic Peninsula. The icebergs are slowly moving along the waters. Photographer: Commander Richard Behn, NOAA Corps.

Views From Above

Views From Above

Credit: Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

Flying over large tabular icebergs on the way to McMurdo Sound. Photographer: Mr. Ardo X. Meyer, NOAA (ret.).

Formation of an Iceberg

Formation of an Iceberg

Credit: Image Courtesy of Landsat 7 project

Icebergs form when they are broken off from a glacier or an ice shelf. Here is an example of an iceberg breaking from a glacier. More than a decade ago a large iceberg (over a thousand square miles in area, and a quarter of a mile thick) broke off an Antarctic glacier and drifted into the Southern Ocean. This true color Landsat 7 image shows relatively small icebergs "calving" off the edge of B10A. The new icebergs drifted into international shipping lanes, posing a threat.

Point of Separation

Point of Separation

Credit: Image courtesy NASA/GSFC/JPL, MISR Team

In this picture, two large icebergs, designated B-15A and C-16, are captured in this Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) nadir camera view of the Ross Ice Shelf and Ross Sea in Antarctica. B-15A is the largest chunk left of a bigger iceberg, known as B-15 that broke off the Ross Ice Shelf in March 2000. That initial frozen hunk was about the size of Jamaica. At 71 miles (115 kilometers) long, B-15A is the largest free-floating object in the world. The image was acquired on December 10, 2000, prior to when B-15A broke off from the Ross Ice Shelf.

The World‘s Most Famous Ice Shelf

The World‘s Most Famous Ice Shelf

Credit: Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

The next pictures focus on the famous Ross Ice Shelf. Note the size of the ice shelf compared to the people in the photo. The picture shows the Ross Ice Shelf, the largest in the world, at the Bay of Whales - the point where Amundsen staged his successful assault on the South Pole. 78 30 S Latitude 164 20W Longitude. Photographer: Michael Van Woert, NOAA NESDIS, ORA.

On the Edge

On the Edge

Credit: Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

This stunning view shows the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf as seen by the NATHANIEL B. PALMER.

Tip of the Iceberg

Tip of the Iceberg

Credit: Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

This perspective view shows the seaward edge of the floating Ross Ice Shelf. Photographer: Michael Van Woert, NOAA NESDIS, ORA.

Simply Beautiful!

Simply Beautiful!

Credit: Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

A southern view of the Ross Ice Shelf at the Bay of Whales. This is the southern-most navigable point on the planet and the point where Amundsen started his successful trek to the South Pole. 78 30 S Latitude 164 20W Longitude. Photographer: Michael Van Woert, NOAA NESDIS, ORA.

Smooth Sailing

Smooth Sailing

Credit: Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

A ship sails pass the Ross Ice Shelf. Research Vessel Ice Breaker (RVIB) NATHANIEL B. PALMER in the background. Photographer: Michael Van Woert, NOAA NESDIS, ORA.