INCREDIBLE ICE
We know that it’s solid water, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg
WORDS CHARLOTTE HARTLEY
The islet of Nordaustlandet in the Arctic Circle is covered by large ice caps
A glacier is a giant mass of ice that travels slowly over land
Our ‘blue planet’ is famed for its expansive oceans and salty seas, but approximately ten per cent of our planet’s surface is frozen over. The vast majority of this ice is found in the polar regions. The Antarctic ice sheet covers an area about the size of the United States and Mexico combined. Meanwhile, in the North Pole, the Greenland ice sheet is so heavy that it presses the land below into a concave bowl shape. Because of its brightwhite colouration, ice reflects sunlight back into the atmosphere. This process plays a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate.