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February 7, 2002 — An iceberg that broke off from the Matusevich Glacier Tongue in Antarctica has been discovered by the National Ice Center in Suitland, Md. The Matusevich Glacial Tongue is a large extension of the Matusevich Glacier from the Antarctic mainland into the northwestern Ross Sea. (Click satellite image for larger view of iceberg breaking off Matusevich glacier in Antarctica taken Feb. 4, 2002.)

This new iceberg, named C-17, is roughly 11 nautical miles long and 4 nautical miles wide, and covers an area of approximately 58.24 square statute miles. An analyst at the center spotted the new berg while performing a weekly analysis of the Ross Sea. The berg was located with a satellite image from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program's Operational Line Scan Visible sensor.

Iceberg names are derived from the Antarctic quadrant in which they were originally sighted. The quadrants are divided counter-clockwise in the following manner:

A = 0-90W (Bellinghausen/Weddell Sea)
B = 90W-180 (Amundsen/Eastern Ross Sea)
C = 180-90E (Western Ross Sea/Wilkesland)
D = 90E-0 (Amery/Eastern Weddell Sea).

When an iceberg is first sighted, NIC documents its point of origin. The letter of the quadrant, along with a sequential number is assigned to the iceberg. For example, C-17 is sequentially the 17th iceberg found by the NIC in Antarctica between 180-90E (Quadrant C).

The NIC is a tri-agency operational center represented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; the United States Navy; and the United States Coast Guard. The National Ice Center mission is to provide world-wide operational ice analyses for the armed forces of the United States and allied nations, U.S. government agencies, and the private sector.

Relevant Web Sites
An image of C-17 is available on the National Ice Center Web site. Click on "What's New." Then click on C-17 iceberg.

Defense Meteorological Satellite Program

Archived Satellite Images, Storm Animations and Special Events, Including Icebergs

Media Contact:
Patricia Viets, NOAA Satellite Service, (301) 457-5005