“Iceberg-tsunami” on icelandic Jökulsárlón lagoon
Last acquired Copernicus Sentinel-2B image captured an unusual event on the Jökulsárlón lagoon in Iceland where a mini-tsunami was generated by a massive calving on Breiðamerkurjökull outlet glacier.
An iceberg had broken off the glacier and was in the process of flipping over when the image was sensed by the Sentinel-2 on perfect timing. As the iceberg flips over it creates a small “iceberg-tsunami” in the lagoon: the waves caused by the drop can be seen spreading towards the South.
Sentinel-2B Level-2A image acquired the 22nd of April showing the exact moment of the iceberg calving
Sentinel-2A image from February 2018 showing the Jökulsárlón lagoon almost totally frozen.
The experts say that the iceberg should float toward the sea, slowly melting and breaking apart over the next few days or weeks.
According to the local Police the ice floating on the lagoon, despite looking solid, is not stable in this season and warns visitors not to venture onto unsafe ice.
People walking on the ice floating on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon (Photo/Ragnar Unnarsson)
Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon is a large glacial lake in southeast Iceland, on the edge of Vatnajökull National Park. Situated at the head of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, it developed into a lake after the glacier started receding from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.
Breiðamerkurjökull outlet glacier in a picture taken from the coast.
Credits: [http://icelandmag.is/], [Wikipedia].
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