The Sound of Iceberg Calving

Nature's colossal roar from a frozen world.

Iceberg calving is the process by which chunks of ice break away from the edge of a glacier or an ice shelf. This isn't a quiet event; it's a powerful and often violent natural phenomenon that creates some of the most dramatic sounds on the planet. The sound can range from a low rumble to a thunderous crack, depending on the size and speed of the ice breaking off.

A large-scale calving event, sometimes called an icequake, can release an immense amount of energy. It was this very sound that provided a scientific explanation for "The Bloop." Researchers found that the unique acoustic signature of The Bloop perfectly matched the sound of a massive icequake, a powerful reminder that our world's most mysterious sounds often have logical, though no less spectacular, origins.

Why is it so loud?

The sheer scale of an iceberg calving event contributes to its volume. As a colossal mass of ice, sometimes miles long and hundreds of feet thick, fractures and collapses into the ocean, it displaces a tremendous amount of water. This creates an underwater shockwave that can travel for thousands of miles, much like a powerful earthquake. The sound is an essential tool for scientists, helping them track the rate of glacial melt and study the dynamics of Earth's frozen landscapes.

"A quiet world holds the loudest stories within its silence."

The sound of an iceberg calving is the voice of a changing planet