Giant 1980s Iceberg, Once Double Rhode Island's Size, Nears Final Collapse

A colossal iceberg that broke from Antarctica in the 1980s is now on the verge of total disintegration, according to NASA. The iceberg, named A-76, is rapidly weakening. Recent satellite images show the iceberg is turning blue. This color change signals large amounts of meltwater pooling on its surface. The water is creating fractures and leaks, accelerating its breakdown. When it first calved, A-76 measured over 1,600 square miles. That made it twice the size of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It has been slowly drifting for decades. Scientists monitor such large icebergs because their melting can impact ocean currents and sea levels. The complete breakup of A-76 will release a significant volume of freshwater into the ocean.