The world’s largest iceberg, A23a is moving. A23a is twice the size of Greater London and weighs almost a trillion tonnes.

According to the Dailymail, the largest iceberg has been “trapped” on the sea floor for over 30 years and has recently started to spin.

Now, experts from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have confirmed that A23a has finally been ‘uncaged’ from its position north of the Orkney Islands.

Now he begins a new journey, as he begins to drift in the Southern Ocean.

“It’s exciting to see A23a moving again after periods of stalling,” said Dr Andrew Meijers, oceanographer at BAS.

“We are interested to see if it will follow the same path as other large icebergs that have left Antarctica and more importantly what impact this will have on the local ecosystem.”

The iceberg had broken off from the Antarctic coastline in 1986.

It then remained on the seabed in the Weddell Sea, before beginning its slow journey north in 2020.

In February of this year, the iceberg became “trapped” in a phenomenon called the Taylor Column. This is the phenomenon where swirling water over a seamount traps objects in place. This kept the A23a rotating in place, delaying its expected rapid northward shift.

Now, images taken by satellites have confirmed that the iceberg has been “uncaged”.

BAS experts now expect it to continue its journey into the Southern Ocean, following the Antarctic Circumpolar Current.

This is likely to take it to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia.

Warmer conditions in this area will likely cause A23a to break up into smaller icebergs, which will eventually melt.

Alongside the satellites, the world’s largest iceberg is being studied by researchers aboard the research vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough.

Laura Taylor, a biogeochemist on board, hopes to study the iceberg’s effect on local ecosystems.

She said: “We know that these giant icebergs can provide nutrients to the waters they pass through, creating thriving ecosystems in otherwise less productive areas.

“What we don’t know is what difference the specific icebergs, their scale and origin can make to this process.

“We sampled ocean surface water along the iceberg’s path.

“They should help us determine what life could form around A23a and how it affects carbon in the ocean and its balance with the atmosphere.”