Scientists hope damage to Larsen C ice shelf will reveal ecosystems

British Antarctic Survey researchers will study area opened up by loss of iceberg A68, which has been hidden for up to 120,000 years

A team of scientists is planning an expedition to examine the marine ecosystem revealed when an enormous iceberg broke off the Larsen C ice shelf earlier this year.

In July, the iceberg known as A68 broke off the shelf, leaving the area at its lowest recorded extent. Researchers are now hoping the event may lead to novel revelations from their investigations of the area opened up, which had been hidden under ice for up to 120,000 years.

Related: Iceberg twice size of Luxembourg breaks off Antarctic ice shelf