Hundreds of icebergs drifting toward New Zealand

23 Nov 09 - More than 100, possibly hundreds, of Antarctic icebergs are floating toward New Zealand, prompting a maritime alert to ships in the south Pacific Ocean.

16 Nov 09 photo released by the Australian Antarctic Division

The alert comes three years after cold weather and favorable ocean currents brought dozens of icebergs to within 25 km (15.5 miles) of New Zealand's southern coast for the first time since 1931.

“Measuring up to 200 meters (650 feet) across and 30 yards (meters) tall, the icebergs are part of a "flotilla" of icebergs that can be seen on satellite images, said Australian glaciologist Neal Young.

“It is rare for whole icebergs to drift so far north before melting,” said this article on Yahoo, "but a cold snap around southern New Zealand and favorable ocean currents have again combined to push the towering visitors to the region intact.”

“Icebergs are formed as the ice shelf develops. Snow falls on the ice sheet and forms more ice, which flows to the edges of the floating ice shelves. Eventually, pieces around the edge break off.”

Young said that having the icebergs end up near New Zealand is not necessarily linked to global warming … and then went on to link them to global warming.

I wonder if the 1931 icebergs were also a result of global warming?
And if New Zealand becomes entirely surrounded by icebergs, will
that be even more proof of global warming? How about if all of New
Zealand's glaciers should double in size? More proof?

See entire articles:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091124/ap_on_re_as/as_new_zealand_icebergs

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091123/ts_afp/australianzealandantarcticaclimateiceberg