Environment

Vast Antarctic iceberg 'could threaten shipping'

UK researchers have been awarded an emergency grant to track a vast iceberg in Antarctica that could enter shipping lanes.

Latest images show several kilometres of water between the iceberg, estimated to be about 700 sq km (270 sq miles), and the glacier that spawned the block.

The icy giant broke away from the Pine Island Glacier (PIG) in July.

in the last couple of days, it has begun to break away and now a kilometre or two of clear water has developed between it and the glacier.

It often takes a while for bergs from this area to get out of Pine Island Bay but once they do that they can either go eastwards along the coast or they can circle out into the main part of the Southern Ocean.