Antarctic icebergs are identified and named by the National Ice Center (NIC), when they meet two basic requirements. The first requirement is that the iceberg must measure at least 10 nm along the long axis. The second requirement is the iceberg be south of 60S latitude. The NIC will continue to track all icebergs that meet these requirements. Exceptions to the requirements above are made for operational purposes and are subject to change with future advances in satellite imagery. Reduction in size below 10 nm will result in removal from database. Loss of visual sighting for 30 consecutive days of a iceberg north of 60S latitude will also result in removal from database as well as warnings disseminated to vessels in the region. Iceberg names are derived from the Antarctic quadrant in which they were originally sighted.

Antarctic Icebergs calve from numerous ice shelves in Antarctica. When an iceberg is first sighted and meets the above requirements, the NIC documents its point of origin. The letter of the quadrant, along with a sequential number is assigned to the iceberg. For example, A-38 is sequentially the 38th iceberg found by the NIC in Antarctica between 0-90W (Quadrant A). When a currently identified and named iceberg breaks apart, the new division(s) are also named. These "new" icebergs include the "host" iceberg's original name and an alpha suffix to identify it as a product of the original iceberg. Therefore, if A-38 breaks into three pieces, the three new icebergs would be designated as A-38A (the host iceberg with a revised alpha suffix), A-38B, and A-38C.

Page last updated on January 27, 2009