Glaciers and Icebergs

Glacier at the Waters Edge

A Calving Glacier

     Glaciers develop in extreme northern and southern latitudes where the snow accumulates over years because it does not have time to melt during the summer months.  The snow is compacted by it's own weight and eventually becomes a solid sheet of ice which grows each year.  The force of gravity acting on the immense sheet of ice causes glaciers to "flow" downhill.  Most glaciers advance less than one foot per day. 

     When a glacier reaches the sea, it breaks off in huge chunks producing an iceberg in a process called calving.  One monstrous Antarctic iceberg was about the size of Connecticut!  Icebergs present a significant danger to ocean-going vessels because, even though ice floats, it's density is 9/10ths that of sea water.  That means that 90% of the mass of an iceberg is submerged.  As icebergs drift slowly toward the equator, they melt unevenly.  Because they are still at the mercy of gravity, they roll to maintain proper weight distribution.  Ninety percent of the berg is always out of view!

One of Nature's Most Amazing Works of Art