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A huge iceberg that broke off from Antarctica after being rammed by another berg could have serious impacts on ocean circulation, scientists are warning.

For years researchers have known of two cracks in opposite sides of a huge ‘tongue’ of ice from the Mertz Glacier in the Australian Antarctic Territory. Now, after an iceberg known as B9B hit this tongue, most of it has cleaved off (images right).

According to the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre in Tasmania (ACE), the newly floating chunk of ice is 78 kilometres long, with a surface area of 2,500 sq km*.

A potentially major consequence is that the satellite pictures now show this new iceberg is heading into the Adelie Depression, a ‘polynya’ or open area of water in the sea ice. This is a major site where the dense water which is important for ocean circulation forms.

“The future position of the two giant icebergs will likely affect local ocean circulation, the extent … of the polynya, sea ice production, and deep water formation. It also has important implications for the marine biology of this region,” says a statement from the centre.

Changes caused by the two icebergs to ocean circulation could bring DEATH according to some. “There may be regions of the world’s oceans that lose oxygen, and then of course most of the life there will die,” says Mario Hoppema, of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Germany (AP).

According to the world’s press, the icebergs are a “”https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gI3WcheUPKnzRr8v9SdPuW7zq5fg">threat to ocean life", which “”https://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2869904/Giant-iceberg-to-change-weather.html">could change the world’s weather" and even “”https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1253919/Iceberg-size-Luxembourg-plunge-Europe-cold-winters.html">plunge Europe into cold winters".

• For the Western press, this is “about the size of Luxembourg”; in Australia it is “the size of the Australian Capital Territory”.

Images: by Neal Young, Australian Antarctic Division © Commonwealth of Australia