Recent iceberg in Magdalenefjorden, Svalbard3D Model
A recently calved iceberg from the tidewater glacier Waggonwaybreen in Magdalenefjorden, NW Svalbard.
The iceberg’s volume is 2973 m³ above the water (measured from the model). Icebergs from glaciers usually protrude 10% of their mass (and volume, assuming the same density) above the water because ice is lighter (900–917 kg/m³ vs ~1000 kg/m³). Thus, its total volume is about ten times larger, so about 30,000 m³, or 27,000 tons.
The calving rate of this glacier is not monitored, but the order of magnitude can be estimated. Similar glaciers move by about 1000 m / yr; the calving front is ca. 60 m high (measured in the field), and about 1000 m wide. Assuming these values are constant (an extreme oversimplification!), the glacier calves about 164,000 m³ per day. Thus, this iceberg represents about a fifth of the glacier’s daily calving volume.
Note the zodiac for scale in the image.
This was made from 46 drone images on 1 August 2022, ca. 40 m above the water.
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