Wilkins Ice Shelf calves several large icebergs,
Named A-58, A-59, A-60
Last Update: August 5, 2008

July 10, 2008, Washington D.C. -- The National Ice Center (NIC), using high-resolution ENVISAT imagery, identified three new icebergs that calved off of the Wilkins Ice Shelf in the Bellingshausen Sea. Each of these icebergs meet criteria for naming and tracking by the NIC. The first iceberg was named A-58, being the 58th occurrence that an iceberg has calved within 0 and 90W. It is located at 70.09S 72.44W and measures 11NM long and 2NM wide. The second iceberg is A-59, located at 70.15S 73.00W and measuring 13NM long and 4NM wide. The third iceberg, A-60, is located at 70.21S 72.54W and measures 11NM long and 2NM wide. ENVISAT imagery indicated the presence of these icebergs on 09 July 2008 (Figure 1) and clearly shows both icebergs calving off the Wilkins Ice Shelf . The Wilkins Ice Shelf extends off Alexander Island which is located off the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. (Figure 2)

Iceberg names are derived from the Antarctic quadrant in which they were originally sighted. The quadrants are divided counter-clockwise in the following manner:

A = 0-90W (Bellinghausen/Weddell Sea)
B = 90W-180 (Amundsen/Eastern Ross Sea)
C = 180-90E (Western Ross Sea/Wilkesland)
D = 90E-0 (Amery/Eastern Weddell Sea).

When first sighted, an iceberg’s point of origin is documented by the NIC. The letter of the quadrant, along with a sequential number, is assigned to the iceberg. For example, A-53 is sequentially the 53rd iceberg tracked by the NIC in Antarctica between 0-90W (Quadrant A).

The National Ice Center is a tri-agency operational center represented by the United States Navy (Department of Defense), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Department of Commerce), and the United States Coast Guard (Department of Homeland Security). The National Ice Center mission is to provide worldwide operational ice analyses for the armed forces of the United States and allied nations, U.S. government agencies, and the private sector.

For more information, please contact:
National Ice Center
Naval Ice Center
Liaison Branch
Voice: 301-394-3100
E-mail: liaison@natice.noaa.gov