Iceland Icebergs

August 28, 2015

Jökulsárlón

Photographer: Lori Zalanowski
Summary Authors: Lori Zalanowski; Stu Witmer

The image above shows one of the many large icebergs that calve from the tongue of the Breiðamerkurjökull (an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull, the largest ice cap in Europe). Approximately 1/8 of an iceberg's mass is above the surface. Before 1890 Vatnajökull calved directly into the North Atlantic. As global temperatures began rising a proglacial lake or lagoon was formed when meltwater filled the depression made as the glacier retreated. The edge of the glacier is now about 12 mi (19 km) from the ocean. After calving from the glacier the icebergs slowly, after some considerable melting, make their way through the narrow passageway from the lagoon to the ocean. Photo taken July 19, 2015.

Photo Details: Camera Maker: Apple; Camera Model: iPhone 5s; Focal Length: 4.15mm (35mm equivalent: 59mm); Digital Zoom: 2.047x; Aperture: ƒ/2.2; Exposure Time: 0.0001 s (1/6849); ISO equiv: 32.