Massive Iceberg from Greenland Moves Down Fjord

A natural-color image collected on July 30 by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on the NASA Terra satellite shows an ice island that broke off Petermann Glacier, in Greenland, about two weeks ago.

The massive iceberg, now known as PII-2012, became separated from its glacier around mid-July, through a process that lasted a couple of days, and which was observed by NASA satellites in real time.

Currently located around 22 kilometers (14 miles) away from the edge of the Petermann Glacier, PII-2012 is traveling at a speed of about 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) per day. The ice mountain is expected to enter the Nares Strait (between Greenland and northeastern Canada) tomorrow, August 4.

According to experts, the iceberg most likely broke off because of oceanic influences, rather than higher temperatures at this location. The Arctic is currently permeated by a series of vicious circles, which contribute to boosting the effects of global warming.