Scientists are warning that a giant iceberg set adrift from the Antarctic could affect the world’s weather systems. The huge chunk of ice measuring 2550 square kilometers was broken off of the Mertz Glacier Tongue earlier this month. Benoit Legresy, a French glaciologist who has been studying the Mertz Glacier for the last 10 years said that the ice tongue had been ready to break for some time now and that it had been hanging on like a loose tooth. The break was caused by another iceberg called B9B. This older lump of ice had broken free two decades ago and drifted into the Mertz Glacier Tongue causing the large chunk to break off.

The worry for scientists is that the two icebergs, which have drifted into an area called a ploynya, could start to disrupt the conveyor belt which drives sea water around the globe. A ploynya is an area where dense water is produced. It is rich in salts and super cold so it sinks to the bottom of the ocean where it pushes circulation. If the two icebergs decide to hang around rather than floating out to sea then they could effectively put a lid on the ploynya. Mr. Legresy explained that the Mertz Glacier ploynya is significant because of its strength and because it accounts for around 20% of the worlds bottom water. Any changes in the world’s weather because of the icebergs are unlikely to be felt anytime soon and the icebergs will start to melt. How quickly however is anyone’s guess.