A vast iceberg which broke off the Antarctic continent this month could disrupt the world's ocean currents and weather patterns, scientists warn.
A vast iceberg that broke off eastern Antarctic earlier this month could disrupt marine life in the region, scientists have warned.
Australian researchers say the iceberg - the size of Luxembourg - could block an area that produces a quarter of the world's dense and very cold seawater.
They say the iceberg, which is 78km long and up to 39km wide, could have consequences for the area's colonies of emperor penguins.
They say a slowdown in the production of this water could result in colder winters in the north Atlantic.
The emblematic birds may be forced to travel further afield to find food.
The iceberg is currently floating south of Australia.
The iceberg calved from the Mertz Glacier Tongue after it was was hit by another huge iceberg, called B9B.
Dr Neal Young, a glaciologist at the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Research Centre in Tasmania, told the BBC that any disruption to the production of the super cold water - known as bottom water - in the region would affect ocean currents, and consequently weather patterns, for years to come.
"It is a very active area for algae growth, especially in springtime," explained Dr Neal from the Australia-based Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Co-operative Research Centre.
"This area accounts for about 25% of the production of bottom water in Antarctica, and therefore it will reduce the overturning circulation rate," he said.
"There are emperor penguin colonies about 200-300km away to the west. They come to this area to feed, and seals in the area also come to get access to the open water," he told BBC News.
"You won't see it immediately, but it has downstream effects. And it will also have implications for penguins and other wildlife in the region that normally use this area for feeding."
He suggested that a change in the availability of open water could affect the rate of food production, which would have an impact on the amount of wildlife it could sustain.
Open water
"If the area gets choked up (with ice), then they would have to go elsewhere and look for food."
The iceberg is sitting in an area of open water surrounded by sea-ice, known as a polynya.
Bottom water produced by polynyas sinks to the bottom of the sea and drives the conveyor-belt like ocean circulation around the globe.
Benoit Legresy, a French glaciologist, said the iceberg broke from the Mertz Glacier Tongue, a 160km spit of floating ice protruding from East Antarctica south of Melbourne.
It was dislodged by another, older, iceberg known as B9B which split off in 1987.
"The ice tongue was almost broken already. It was hanging like a loose tooth," Mr Legresy said.
"If they [the icebergs] stay in this area - which is likely - they could block the production of this dense water, essentially putting a lid on the polynya," he added.
