Ice Wreath
North of South Georgia | Southern Atlantic Ocean
Date of acquisition: May 4th, 2025 | 12:16:39 UTC
Sensor: Sentinel-2B L2A
Coordinates: ca. 53.24455°S, 37.45894°W
An interesting phenomenon was observed in a Sentinel-2 satellite image located approximately 85 km north-northeast of South Georgia Island. A medium-sized, triangular iceberg, measuring about 940 by 550 meters, was surrounded by a wreath-shaped ring of melting ice and small iceberg fragments, about 3.5 km in diameter.
When an iceberg enters warmer waters, freshwater flows from its exposed surfaces into the ocean. At the same time, due to its lower density, the freshwater rises to the surface from its submerged, melting underside. In calm weather with minimal wave activity, these currents converge and spread across the ocean surface. This movement gently disperses ice particles and fragments around the iceberg in a floating pattern, forming a circular, wreath-like shape.
As such calm weather conditions are rare in this region, this type of formation is rarely seen.
