Antarctic Icebergs Show Their Colorful Undersides

<!DOCTYPE html>      <html lang="en">  <head>  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-KEN9L99MMC"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-KEN9L99MMC'); </script> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <title>Antarctic Icebergs Show Their Colorful Undersides</title>  <meta name="orgcode" content="610"> <meta name="rno" content="Robert.C.Levy.1"> <meta name="content-owner" content="Paul.D.Przyborski.1"> <meta name="webmaster" content="Paul.D.Przyborski.1"> <meta name="description" content="The blue underbellies of icebergs were spotted floating near the Amery Ice Shelf.">  <meta name="DC.Identifier" content="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/"> <meta name="DC.Title" content="Antarctic Icebergs Show Their Colorful Undersides"> <meta name="DC.Description" content="The blue underbellies of icebergs were spotted floating near the Amery Ice Shelf."> <meta name="DC.Date" scheme="ISO8601" content="2024-11-16"> <meta name="DC.Date.X-MetadataLastModified" scheme="ISO8601" content="2024-11-18"> <meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:standard"> <meta name="DC.Publisher" content="NASA Earth Observatory"> <meta name="DC.Publisher.Address" content="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/contact/"> <meta name="DC.Language" scheme="ISO639-1" content="en"> <meta name="DC.Type" content="Text.Article"> <meta name="DC.Format" scheme="IMT" content="text/html"> <meta name="DC.subject" content="climate change, global climate change, global warming, natural hazards, Earth, environment, remote sensing, atmosphere, land processes, oceans, volcanoes, land cover, Earth science data, NASA, environmental processes, Blue Marble, global maps"> <meta name="csrf-token" content="OjgQQX4eOCYqADTAnMVGGrGKjRZ2D7iwF0ZKpNvM">  <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@nasaearth"> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Antarctic Icebergs Show Their Colorful Undersides"> <meta name="twitter:description" content="The blue underbellies of icebergs were spotted floating near the Amery Ice Shelf."> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/153000/153578/guano_oli2_20241026_th.jpg"> <meta name="twitter:image:alt" content="Antarctic Icebergs Show Their Colorful Undersides">  <link rel="image_src" href="https://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/153000/153578/guano_oli2_20241026_th.jpg" />  <meta name="thumbnail" content="https://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/153000/153578/guano_oli2_20241026_th.jpg" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"> <link href="/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet"/> <link href="/css/jasny-bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet"/> <link href="/css/hover-min.css" rel="stylesheet"/> <link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Rajdhani:300,400,500,600,700" rel="stylesheet"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/css/arthref.min.css" /> <link href="/css/main.css" rel="stylesheet"/> <link href="/css/animate.min.css" rel="stylesheet"/>    </head> <body> <div class="mobileNavBar"></div> <div class="mobileNavBarScroll"></div> <nav class="navmenu navmenu-default navmenu-fixed-right offcanvas nocontent" role="navigation"> <div class="navbar mobile-left-nav search-container"> </div> <ul class="nav navmenu-nav"> <li><a href="/topic/atmosphere" class="btn-atmosphere">Atmosphere</a></li> <li><a href="/topic/heat" class="btn-heat">Heat</a></li> <li><a href="/topic/human-presence" class="btn-human">Human Presence</a></li> <li><a href="/topic/land" class="btn-land">Land</a></li> <li><a href="/topic/life" class="btn-life">Life</a></li> <li> <a href="javascript:void(0)" class="btn-naturalevent dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" title="Natural Events navigation" alt="Natural Events navigation">Natural Events</a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li><a href="/topic/natural-event">All</a></li> <li><a href="/topic/drought">Drought</a></li> <li><a href="/topic/dust-and-haze">Dust and Haze</a></li> <li><a href="/topic/earthquakes">Earthquakes</a></li> <li><a href="/topic/fires">Fires</a></li> <li><a href="/topic/floods">Floods</a></li> <li><a href="/topic/landslides">Landslides</a></li> <li><a href="/topic/man-made">Man-made</a></li> <li><a href="/topic/sea-and-lake-ice">Sea and Lake Ice</a></li> <li><a href="/topic/severe-storms">Severe Storms</a></li> <li><a href="/topic/temperature-extremes">Temperature Extremes</a></li> <li><a href="/topic/unique-imagery">Unique Imagery</a></li> <li><a href="/topic/volcanoes">Volcanoes</a></li> <li><a href="/topic/water-color">Water Color</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="/topic/remote-sensing" class="btn-remotesensing">Remote Sensing</a></li> <li><a href="/topic/snow-and-ice" class="btn-snowice"><img src="/img/topics/topic-snowIce.svg" alt="Snow & Ice"/>Snow & Ice</a></li> <li><a href="/topic/water" class="btn-water">Water</a></li>   <li> <a href="javascript:void(0)" class="btn-collections dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" title="Collections navigation" alt="Collections navigation">Collections</a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li><a href = "/collection/1619/abcs-from-space">ABCs from Space</a></li> <li><a href = "/collection/1722/air-quality">Air Quality</a></li> <li><a href = "/collection/1676/amazon-deforestation">Amazon Deforestation</a></li> <li><a href = "/collection/1654/applied-sciences">Applied Sciences</a></li> <li><a href = "/collection/1461/astronaut-photography">Astronaut Photography</a></li> <li><a href = "/collection/1717/backgrounders">Backgrounders</a></li> <li><a href = "/collection/1484/blue-marble">Blue Marble</a></li> <li><a href = "/collection/1595/earth-at-night">Earth at Night</a></li> <li><a href = "/collection/1658/earth-from-afar">Earth from Afar</a></li> <li><a href = "/collection/1692/fall-colors">Fall Colors</a></li> <li><a href = "/collection/1714/food-and-agriculture">Food and Agriculture</a></li> <li><a href = "/collection/1687/international-parks-and-unesco-sites">International Parks and UNESCO Sites</a></li> <li><a href = "/collection/1702/renewable-and-alternative-energy">Renewable and Alternative Energy</a></li> <li><a href = "/collection/1684/sea-level-rise">Sea Level Rise</a></li> <li><a href = "/collection/1596/us-national-parks">U.S. National Parks</a></li> <li><a href = "/world-of-change">World of Change</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <div class="dropdown-menu-backdrop"></div> </nav> <div class="navbar navbar-default"> <div class="container-fluid"> <ul class="nav navbar-nav navbar-right"> <li> <button type="button" class="navbar-toggle navbar-toggle-map hvr-rectangle-out" onclick="location.href='/map'"> <span class="navbar-toggle-text">EO Explorer</span> <div class="pull-right"> <span class="icon-map glyphicon glyphicon-map-marker"></span> </div> </button> </li> <li> <button type="button" class="navbar-toggle collapsed hvr-rectangle-out" data-toggle="offcanvas" data-target=".navmenu" data-canvas="body"> <span class="navbar-toggle-text">Topics</span> <div class="pull-right"> <span class="icon-bar top-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar middle-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar bottom-bar"></span> </div> </button> </li> </ul> <div class="navbar-header"> <a class="navbar-brand navbar-brand-meatball" href="https://www.nasa.gov/"> <div class="pull-left image-fade"> <img class="bottom-fade" src="/img/logo-meatball2.png" srcset="/img/logo-meatball2-2x.png" alt="NASA"/> <img class="top-fade" src="/img/logo-meatball1.png" srcset="/img/logo-meatball1-2x.png" alt="NASA"/> <div class="logo-circle"></div> </div> </a> <a class="navbar-brand navbar-brand-default" href="/"> <div class="pull-left image-fade"> <img class="bottom-fade" src="/img/logoWhite.png" alt="Earth Observatory"/> <img class="top-fade" src="/img/logo.png" alt="Earth Observatory"/> </div> </a> </div> <div class="navbar-collapse collapse navbar-responsive-collapse search-container"> <form class="navbar-form navbar-left" action="/search"> <div class="form-group"> <label for = "search-input" class = "sr-only">Search</label> <input class="form-control col-lg-12" name="q" id="search-input" type="text"/> <a href="javascript:void(0)" class="search-submit" title="Search" alt="Search"> <img src="/img/icon-search.svg" alt="Search Icon"> </a> </div> </form> <ul class="nav navbar-nav navbar-left"> <li class="navbar-close"> <button type="button" class="navbar-toggle hvr-rectangle-out navbar-toggle-active" data-toggle="offcanvas" data-target=".navmenu" data-canvas="body"> <div class="pull-right"> <span class="icon-bar top-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar middle-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar bottom-bar"></span> </div> </button> </li> <li class="search-toggle-container"> <a href="javascript:void(0)" class="search-toggle" title="Search" alt="Search"> <img src="/img/icon-search.svg" alt="Search Icon"> </a> </li> <li><a href="/images" class="hvr-rectangle-out active">Images</a></li> <li><a href="/global-maps" class="hvr-rectangle-out">Global Maps</a></li> <li><a href="/features" class="hvr-rectangle-out">Articles</a></li> <li><a href="/blogs/" class="hvr-rectangle-out">Blogs</a></li> <li><a href="/map/" class="hidden-md hidden-lg hvr-rectangle-out">EO Explorer</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class = "print-header visible-print-block"> <img src="/img/logo-meatball1.png" srcset="/img/logo-meatball1-2x.png" alt="NASA"/> <img src="/img/logo.png" alt="Earth Observatory"/> </div>  <div class = "container-fluid detail-container image-detail-container"> <div class = "social-btns"> <a href = "javascript:void(0)" title = "Share" alt = "Share" class = "share-btn no-underline"><?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>  <!DOCTYPE svg PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD SVG 1.1//EN" "http://www.w3.org/Graphics/SVG/1.1/DTD/svg11.dtd"> <svg version="1.1" id="Layer_1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" width="409px" height="446px" viewBox="100.5 173.5 409 446" enable-background="new 100.5 173.5 409 446" xml:space="preserve"> <g id="Layer_2"> </g> <g id="Layer_3"> <path fill="#FFFFFF" d="M439,485.333c-18.218,0-34.688,7.464-46.536,19.491l-154.692-91.868c1.229-5.007,1.894-10.236,1.894-15.623 c0-5.683-0.729-11.196-2.092-16.453l152.438-90.529c11.901,12.507,28.695,20.315,47.322,20.315 c36.083,0,65.333-29.25,65.333-65.333S473.417,180,437.334,180S372,209.25,372,245.333c0,4.962,0.571,9.788,1.619,14.434 l-153.382,91.09C208.438,339.201,192.229,332,174.333,332C138.25,332,109,361.25,109,397.333s29.251,65.333,65.333,65.333 c18.198,0,34.652-7.446,46.499-19.451l154.718,91.884c-1.221,4.99-1.882,10.2-1.882,15.567c0,36.083,29.251,65.333,65.333,65.333 c36.083,0,65.333-29.25,65.333-65.333C504.333,514.584,475.083,485.333,439,485.333z"/> </g> </svg> </a> <a href = "javascript:window.print()" title = "Print" alt = "Print" class = "print-btn no-underline"><?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>  <!DOCTYPE svg PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD SVG 1.1//EN" "http://www.w3.org/Graphics/SVG/1.1/DTD/svg11.dtd"> <svg version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" width="506.667px" height="478px" viewBox="0 0 506.667 478" enable-background="new 0 0 506.667 478" xml:space="preserve"> <g id="Layer_3"> </g> <g id="Layer_2"> <g> <path fill="none" d="M360.335,122.665c-28.167,0-51-22.834-51-51c0-5.455,0.004-14.377,0.009-23.188H137.286 c-9.255,0-16.785,6.815-16.785,15.192v177.329h262V122.625c-7.087,0.023-14.121,0.041-19.499,0.041H360.335z"/> <path fill="none" d="M120.501,415.305c0,8.377,7.53,15.192,16.785,15.192h228.431c9.255,0,16.784-6.815,16.784-15.192v-61.058 h-262V415.305z"/> <circle fill="none" cx="445.001" cy="258.331" r="22.333"/> <path fill="#FFFFFF" d="M451.668,202.665h-2.667c-5.825,0-13.753,0.011-21.5,0.024V101.934L331.044,5.477H139.286 c-32.965,0-59.785,26.105-59.785,58.192v138.253c-7.846,0.042-15.9,0.076-21.833,0.076h-2.667c-25.791,0-47.096,19.147-50.51,44 H4.001v146.667h75.5v22.641c0,32.088,26.819,58.192,59.785,58.192h228.431c32.965,0,59.784-26.104,59.784-58.192v-22.641h75.167 v-140h-0.025C502.107,224.961,479.499,202.665,451.668,202.665z M384.501,415.305c0,8.377-7.529,15.192-16.784,15.192H139.286 c-9.255,0-16.785-6.815-16.785-15.192v-61.058h262V415.305z M384.501,240.998h-262V63.669c0-8.377,7.53-15.192,16.785-15.192 h172.058c-0.005,8.812-0.009,17.734-0.009,23.188c0,28.166,22.833,51,51,51h2.667c5.378,0,12.412-0.017,19.499-0.041V240.998z M447.001,280.665c-12.334,0-22.333-9.999-22.333-22.333c0-12.335,9.999-22.334,22.333-22.334 c12.335,0,22.334,9.999,22.334,22.334C469.335,270.666,459.336,280.665,447.001,280.665z"/> </g> </g> </svg> </a> </div> <div class = "container container-mobile-fluid"> <div class = "row"> <div class = "col-xs-12"> <h1 class = "detail-header">Antarctic Icebergs Show Their Colorful Undersides</h1> </div> </div> <div class = "row"> <div class = "col-lg-8 col-md-8 col-sm-8 col-xs-12 col-md-right-space col-md-bottom-space"> <div class = "panel image-viewer-panel"> <div class = "panel-image"> <a href = "https://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/153000/153578/guano_oli2_20241026_lrg.jpg" target = "_blank"><img src = "https://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/153000/153578/guano_oli2_20241026.jpg" alt = "October 26, 2024" /></a> </div> <div class = "panel-footer"> <p class = "first">October 26, 2024<a href = "https://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/153000/153578/guano_oli2_20241026_lrg.jpg" target = "_blank" class = "download-btn download-btn-first no-underline pull-right hvr-rectangle-out">JPEG</a></p> <div class = "clearfix"></div> </div> </div> <p>Among a medley of snow-covered sea ice and icebergs off East Antarctica, some colorful features stand out from their surroundings. Jan Lieser, a meteorologist and ice specialist with the Antarctic Meteorological Service, spotted blue icebergs in satellite imagery near the <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/77132/amery-ice-shelf">Amery Ice Shelf</a> in Prydz Bay. </p> <p>The colorful icebergs can be seen in this image, acquired on October 26, 2024, with the OLI-2 (<a href="https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/satellites/landsat-9/landsat-9-instruments/oli-2-design/">Operational Land Imager-2</a>) on <a href="https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/satellites/landsat-9/">Landsat 9</a>. These icebergs have been flipped over, showing the color of their snow-free undersides. Lieser has <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/152097/a-small-green-iceberg">previously observed</a> icebergs in this area that looked more jade in color. </p> <p>In this part of the continent, the <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/1199/lambert-glacier-velocity-map">Lambert Glacier</a> flows from the land and spreads out over the sea, forming part of the Amery Ice Shelf (located south of this image). Pieces occasionally break off from the front of the shelf and drift away as icebergs, many of which are visible amid an expanse of sea ice. </p> <p>An iceberg’s glacial ice—made up of compressed snow and firn—contains air bubbles that scatter light and typically appears white like snow or bluish white. But in parts of the Amery Ice Shelf, seawater freezes to the underside of the shelf, hundreds of meters below the surface. The frozen seawater is free of bubbles and takes on the color of the water and its impurities.</p> <p>“The clear marine ice can vary in color from deep blue, to green, to even brownish yellow, depending upon the concentration of constituents in the sea water,” said Collin Roesler, an oceanographer at Bowdoin College. </p> <p>Roesler authored a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JC014479">study</a> published in 2019 that found some icebergs near the Amery Ice Shelf take on a green color because of the presence of iron oxides in seawater acquired from rock dust on the mainland. The <a href="https://earthsky.org/earth/antarctic-green-icebergs-mystery-solved/">research</a> suggested that such iron-laden bergs might be moving the mineral—an important nutrient for marine life—from the land to the sea. </p> <p>“Our analysis suggested that the Amery Ice Shelf is particularly suited to forming green icebergs because of the conditions that support the accumulation of freezing seawater onto the underside of the shelf,” said Roesler. But the undersides of the bergs can only be seen if they overturn—a maneuver that can be triggered by the melting or breaking of an iceberg, which makes it unstable and more likely to flip. Roesler and colleagues previously surveyed the region by helicopter and found a high fraction of overturned bergs in this area. </p> <p>In the same scene, Lieser also spotted a stain in the snow near the coast of Cape Darnley and said this was the accumulated guano from a sizeable emperor penguin colony. In <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/90372/penguin-droppings-are-fertile-ground-for-science">previous research</a>, scientists have discovered colonies in remote parts of Antarctica by searching satellite images for guano stains. Lieser added, “It’s interesting that we can see their excrement from space.” </p> <p><i>NASA Earth Observatory image by <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/about/wanmei-liang">Wanmei Liang</a>, using Landsat data from the <a href="http://earthexplorer.usgs.gov">U.S. Geological Survey</a>. Story by <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/about/emily-cassidy">Emily Cassidy</a>.</i></p> </div> <div class = "col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-12"> <div class = "panel panel-default hidden-xs"> <div class = "panel-body"> <div class = "panel-map"> <a href = "/map#4/-74.140083874405/164.970703125" id = "pointer" title = "pointer" alt = "pointer" class = "no-underline panel-map-pinpoint" style="top: 150.02944911383px; left: 273.91698293917px;"><?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>  <svg version="1.1" id="Layer_1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewBox="0 0 98.2 98.2" style="enable-background:new 0 0 98.2 98.2;" xml:space="preserve"> <style type="text/css"> .st0{fill:#F05223;cursor:default;} </style> <circle class="st0" cx="49" cy="49.1" r="49"/> </svg> </a> <img src = "/img/detailMap.jpg" id = "map" class = "panel-map-detailmap" alt = "Location" onclick="location.href='/map#4/-74.140083874405/164.970703125'" /> </div> <div class = "panel-map"> <p class="text-center map-link"><a href="/map#4/-74.140083874405/164.970703125">View this area in EO Explorer</a></p> </div> <div class = "panel-map-description"> <p><strong>The blue underbellies of icebergs were spotted floating near the Amery Ice Shelf.</strong></p> <p>Image of the Day for November 16, 2024</p> <dl class="instruments"> <dt>Instrument:</dt> <dd>Landsat 9 — OLI-2</dd> </dl> </div> </div> <p class = "btn-tag-group"> <a href = "/topic/image-of-the-day" class = "btn btn-tag hvr-rectangle-in btn-sm btn-imageofday">Image of the Day</a> <a href = "/topic/snow-and-ice" class = "btn btn-tag hvr-rectangle-in btn-sm btn-snowice">Snow and Ice</a> </p> <div class = "panel-body"> <div class = "panel-iotd-nav nocontent"> <p><strong>View more Images of the Day:</strong></p> <div class = "col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"> <div class = "row"> <div class = "col-md-6 col-sm-6 col-xs-6"> <div class = "panel-image"><a href = "/images/153581/indonesia-continues-to-erupt"><img src = "https://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/153000/153581/lewotobi_oli2_20241113_th.jpg" alt = "Indonesia Continues to Erupt" /></a></div> <div class = "thumbnail-date pull-left">Nov 15, 2024</div> </div> <div class = "col-md-6 col-sm-6 col-xs-6"> <div class = "panel-image"><a href = "/images/153585/tajikistans-fedchenko-glacier"><img src = "https://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/153000/153585/iss069e060332_th.jpg" alt = "Tajikistan’s Fedchenko Glacier" /></a></div> <div class = "thumbnail-date pull-right">Nov 17, 2024</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class = "panel-body panel-body-mobile visible-xs"></div> <a href = "javascript:void(0)" title = "down arrow" alt = "down arrow" class = "visible-xs panel-expand-collapse"> <div class="arrow down"></div> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class = "row"> <div class = "col-xs-12 references"> <div class = "row"> <div class = "container container-mobile-fluid"> <div class = "row"> <div class = "col-xs-12 references-content"> <div class = "references-icon"></div> <h2>References & Resources</h2> <ul> <li>EarthSky (2019, March 12) <a href="https://earthsky.org/earth/antarctic-green-icebergs-mystery-solved/">Why are some icebergs green?</a> Accessed November 15, 2024.</li> <li>NASA Earth Observatory (2023, November 18) <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/152097/a-small-green-iceberg">A Small Green Iceberg</a>. Accessed November 15, 2024.</li> <li>NASA Earth Observatory Kids (2020, January) <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/blogs/eokids/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/01/24_Penguin-Poop_Jan-2020.pdf">Peeking at Penguins Poop From Space</a>. Accessed November 15, 2024.</li> <li>NASA Earth Observatory (2017, June 13) <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/90372/penguin-droppings-are-fertile-ground-for-science">Penguin Droppings Are Fertile Ground for Science</a>. Accessed November 15, 2024.</li> <li>NASA Earth Observatory (2012, February 12) <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/77132/amery-ice-shelf">Amery Ice Shelf</a>. Accessed November 15, 2024.</li> <li>National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) <a href="https://nsidc.org/learn/parts-cryosphere/ice-shelves">Ice Shelves</a>. Accessed November 15, 2024.</li> <li><cite>Smithsonian Magazine</cite> (2015, January 15) <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/photographer-captures-stunning-underside-flipped-iceberg-180953951/?no-ist">An Iceberg Flipped Over, and Its Underside Is Breathtaking</a>. Accessed November 15, 2024.</li> <li>Warren, S. G., <em>et al.</em> (2019) <a href="https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JC014479">Green icebergs revisited</a>. <cite>Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans</cite>, 124(2), 925-938. </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class = "container container-mobile-fluid hidden-xs"> <div class = "row"> <div class = "col-xs-12"> <h2 class = "cta-interest-header related-images-header">You might also be interested in    (<a href="/images/related/153578/antarctic-icebergs-show-their-colorful-undersides">view all</a>)</h2> </div> </div> </div> <div class = "row hidden-xs"> <div class = "container-fluid homepage-cards-container"> <div class = "row thumbnail-cards homepage-cards masonry-container"> <div class="grid-sizer col-lg-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-12"></div> <div class = "visible-xs col-xs-12 hidden-print"> <a href = "/subscribe/" class = "cta cta-subscribe"> <img src = "/img/logo-mark.svg" alt = "Subscribe to the Earth Observatory" /> <h1>Subscribe</h1> to our newsletters </a> </div> <div class = "visible-xs col-xs-12 hidden-print"> <a href = "/blogs//eokids/" class = "cta cta-eokids"> <img src = "/img/eokids/eokidslogo.png" alt = "EOKids" /> </a> </div> <div class = "col-lg-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-12 masonry-item"> <div class = "thumbnail" data-href = "/images/152097/a-small-green-iceberg"> <div class = "thumbnail-image"><a href="/images/152097/a-small-green-iceberg"><img src = "https://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/152000/152097/jadeice_oli2_2023291_th.jpg" alt = "A Small Green Iceberg?" /></a></div> <div class = "caption"> <div class = "thumbnail-topic-group"> <div class = "thumbnail-half-circle"></div> <span class = "thumbnail-topic thumbnail-topic-image">Image</span> </div> <h4><a href="/images/152097/a-small-green-iceberg">A Small Green Iceberg?</a></h4> <p>A scientist spotted a jade hue in the sea ice fastened to the coast of East Antarctica.</p> <p class = "btn-tag-group"> <a href = "/topic/image-of-the-day" class = "btn btn-tag hvr-rectangle-in btn-xs btn-imageofday">Image of the Day</a> <a href = "/topic/snow-and-ice" class = "btn btn-tag hvr-rectangle-in btn-xs btn-snowice">Snow and Ice</a> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class = "col-lg-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-12 masonry-item"> <div class = "thumbnail" data-href = "/images/90372/penguin-droppings-are-fertile-ground-for-science"> <div class = "thumbnail-image"><a href="/images/90372/penguin-droppings-are-fertile-ground-for-science"><img src = "https://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/90000/90372/danger_island_colonies_th.png" alt = "Penguin Droppings Are Fertile Ground for Science" /></a></div> <div class = "caption"> <div class = "thumbnail-topic-group"> <div class = "thumbnail-half-circle"></div> <span class = "thumbnail-topic thumbnail-topic-image">Image</span> </div> <h4><a href="/images/90372/penguin-droppings-are-fertile-ground-for-science">Penguin Droppings Are Fertile Ground for Science</a></h4> <p>How scientists are discovering colonies in remote parts of Antarctica by searching satellite images for guano stains.</p> <p class = "btn-tag-group"> <a href = "/topic/image-of-the-day" class = "btn btn-tag hvr-rectangle-in btn-xs btn-imageofday">Image of the Day</a> <a href = "/topic/life" class = "btn btn-tag hvr-rectangle-in btn-xs btn-life">Life</a> <a href = "/topic/snow-and-ice" class = "btn btn-tag hvr-rectangle-in btn-xs btn-snowice">Snow and Ice</a> <a href = "/topic/remote-sensing" class = "btn btn-tag hvr-rectangle-in btn-xs btn-remotesensing">Remote Sensing</a> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class = "col-lg-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-12 masonry-item"> <div class = "thumbnail" data-href = "/images/149592/march-of-the-icebergs"> <div class = "thumbnail-image"><a href="/images/149592/march-of-the-icebergs"><img src = "https://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/149000/149592/d30a_oli-tirs_2022068_th.jpg" alt = "March of the Icebergs" /></a></div> <div class = "caption"> <div class = "thumbnail-topic-group"> <div class = "thumbnail-half-circle"></div> <span class = "thumbnail-topic thumbnail-topic-image">Image</span> </div> <h4><a href="/images/149592/march-of-the-icebergs">March of the Icebergs</a></h4> <p>After nearly pummeling the vulnerable Brunt Ice Shelf, a flock of Antarctic icebergs settles in for the austral winter.</p> <p class = "btn-tag-group"> <a href = "/topic/image-of-the-day" class = "btn btn-tag hvr-rectangle-in btn-xs btn-imageofday">Image of the Day</a> <a href = "/topic/heat" class = "btn btn-tag hvr-rectangle-in btn-xs btn-heat">Heat</a> <a href = "/topic/land" class = "btn btn-tag hvr-rectangle-in btn-xs btn-land">Land</a> <a href = "/topic/water" class = "btn btn-tag hvr-rectangle-in btn-xs btn-water">Water</a> <a href = "/topic/snow-and-ice" class = "btn btn-tag hvr-rectangle-in btn-xs btn-snowice">Snow and Ice</a> <a href = "/topic/remote-sensing" class = "btn btn-tag hvr-rectangle-in btn-xs btn-remotesensing">Remote Sensing</a> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class = "col-lg-3 col-sm-4 col-xs-12 masonry-item"> <div class = "thumbnail" data-href = "/images/148213/tracking-an-antarctic-icebergs-epic-journey"> <div class = "thumbnail-image"><a href="/images/148213/tracking-an-antarctic-icebergs-epic-journey"><img src = "https://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/148000/148213/larsenc_tmo_2017254_tn.jpg" alt = "Tracking an Antarctic Iceberg’s Epic Journey" /></a></div> <div class = "caption"> <div class = "thumbnail-topic-group"> <div class = "thumbnail-half-circle"></div> <span class = "thumbnail-topic thumbnail-topic-image">Image</span> </div> <h4><a href="/images/148213/tracking-an-antarctic-icebergs-epic-journey">Tracking an Antarctic Iceberg’s Epic Journey</a></h4> <p>The long voyage of one of the planet’s largest bergs—A-68A—has come to an end.</p> <p class = "btn-tag-group"> <a href = "/topic/image-of-the-day" class = "btn btn-tag hvr-rectangle-in btn-xs btn-imageofday">Image of the Day</a> <a href = "/topic/snow-and-ice" class = "btn btn-tag hvr-rectangle-in btn-xs btn-snowice">Snow and Ice</a> <a href = "/topic/remote-sensing" class = "btn btn-tag hvr-rectangle-in btn-xs btn-remotesensing">Remote Sensing</a> <a href = "/topic/sea-and-lake-ice" class = "btn btn-tag hvr-rectangle-in btn-xs btn-seaandlakeice">Sea and Lake Ice</a> <a href = "/topic/videos" class = "btn btn-tag hvr-rectangle-in btn-xs btn-videos">Videos</a> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class = "row visible-xs"> <div class = "col-xs-12 cta-subscribe-detail"> <a href = "/subscribe/" class = "cta cta-subscribe-large"> <h1>Subscribe</h1> <span class = "visible-xs">to our newsletters</span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <footer> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="footer-logo col-lg-3 col-sm-3 col-xs-12"> <a href="/" title="Earth Observatory"> <img class="logo-mark" src="/img/logo-mark.svg" alt="Earth Observatory"/> </a> </div> <div class="col-lg-7 col-sm-8 col-xs-12 pull-right"> <ul class="nav nav-pills"> <li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/nasaearth/" class="fb hvr-rectangle-out" title="Facebook"><img src="/img/social-facebook.svg" alt="Facebook"/></a></li> <li><a href="http://twitter.com/nasaearth/" class="twitter hvr-rectangle-out" title="Twitter"><img src="/img/social-twitter.svg" alt="Twitter"/></a></li> <li><a href="http://instagram.com/NASAEarth/" class="instagram hvr-rectangle-out" title="Instagram"><img src="/img/social-instagram.svg" alt="Instagram"/></a></li> <li><a href="/subscribe/" class="subscribe hvr-rectangle-out" title="Subscribe"><img src="/img/social-subscribe.svg" alt="Subscribe"/></a></li> <li><a href="/subscribe/feeds" class="rss hvr-rectangle-out" title="RSS"><img src="/img/social-rss.svg" alt="RSS"/></a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-lg-8 col-sm-8 col-xs-12 pull-right"> <ul class="nav-footer"> <li><a href="/subscribe/feeds">Feeds</a></li> <li><a href="/contact/">Contact</a></li> <li><a href="/about">About</a></li> <li><a href="/image-use-policy">Image Use Policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/accessibility/">Accessibility</a></li> </ul> <div class="clearfix"></div> <div class="footer-contact col-lg-6 col-sm-6 col-xs-12"> Webmaster <a href="/contact/">Paul Przyborski</a> </div> <div class="footer-contact col-lg-6 col-sm-6 col-xs-12"> NASA Official <a href="/contact/">Robert Levy</a> </div> <div class="footer-credit col-lg-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"> The Earth Observatory is part of the <br class="hidden-lg hidden-sm"/><a href="http://eospso.nasa.gov/">EOS Project Science Office</a> at <br class="hidden-lg hidden-sm"/><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/">NASA Goddard Space Flight Center</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </footer> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.12.4/jquery.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/bootstrap.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/bootstrap-alert.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/bootstrap-notify.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/jasny-bootstrap.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/fontawesome/js/fontawesome-all.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/masonry.pkgd.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/imagesloaded.pkgd.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/main.js"></script> <script src="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/js/jquery.visible.min.js"></script> <script src="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/js/detail.js"></script> <script src="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/js/socialShare.min.js"></script> <script> $( document ).ready( function () { $( '.social-btns .share-btn' ).socialShare({ animation: 'launchpad', social: 'facebook,twitter,reddit', whenSelect: true, selectContainer: '.social-btns .share-btn', title: 'Antarctic Icebergs Show Their Colorful Undersides' // Title of specific page to share }); }); $( window ).load( function () { $('.panel-image').each(function() { var height = $(this).children('img').height(); var width = $(this).children('img').width(); if (height === null) { height = $(this).children('a').children('img').height(); } if (width === null) { width = $(this).children('a').children('img').width(); } var percent = height / (width / 100); $(this).css('padding-top', percent+'%'); }); $('.colorbar').each(function() { var width = $(this).children('img').prop('naturalWidth'); if (width < 720) { $(this).children('img').css('width', 'auto'); } }) buildMap(); }); var map, mapHeight, mapWidth; map = $('.panel-map'); // initialize map function buildMap() { var mapHeight = map.height(); var mapWidth = map.width(); updateMap(mapHeight, mapWidth); } // move the map pointer on window resize $( window ).resize( function () { mapHeight = map.height(); mapWidth = map.width(); if (mapHeight == 0) { // reset the map size newMap = $('.panel-map'); mapHeight = newMap.height(); mapWidth = newMap.width(); } else { mapHeight = map.height(); mapWidth = map.width(); } updateMap(mapHeight, mapWidth); }); // update the pointer location function updateMap(mapHeight, mapWidth) { $.ajax({ type : 'GET', url : 'https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/mapInfo', data : { height : mapHeight, width : mapWidth, lat : '-74.140083874405', lon : '164.970703125' }, cache : false, dataType : 'json', success : function( results ) { if (!$.trim(results)){ // do nothiing } else{ $( 'a#pointer' ).attr('style','top: '+results['y']+'px; left: '+results['x']+'px;'); } } }); } </script> <script type="text/javascript"> var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17823747-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); </script> <script language="javascript" id="_fed_an_ua_tag" src="https://dap.digitalgov.gov/Universal-Federated-Analytics-Min.js?agency=NASA&subagency=GSFC&yt=true&dclink=true"></script> <script src=https://touchpoints.app.cloud.gov/touchpoints/876fdea6.js async></script> <script id="parsely-cfg" src="//cdn.parsely.com/keys/earthobservatory.nasa.gov/p.js" async="" defer=""></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Antarctic Icebergs Show Their Colorful Undersides