Quck answer
An iceberg is a large piece of freshwater ice that has broken off from a glacier or an ice shelf and is floating in open water. It is formed when snow accumulates over many years, compresses into ice, and then moves downstream. The visible part of an iceberg is only about 10% of its total size, with the majority hidden underwater. Icebergs can be very dangerous for ships as they can cause collisions and damage. They are also important in the ecosystem as they provide habitats for various marine organisms. The Titanic disaster in 1912 was caused by hitting an iceberg.
An iceberg is a large piece of freshwater ice that floats in open water. Icebergs are created when they break off from glaciers or ice shelves in a process known as “calving.”
The majority of glaciers that calve icebergs can be found along the shores of Greenland. Approximately 10,000 to 15,000 new icebergs break off from these glaciers each year.
Icebergs come in various shapes and sizes. Icebergs the size of a house are considered small.
Icebergs can be much larger. Some icebergs can be as massive as an airplane, a building, or even an aircraft carrier! The tallest recorded iceberg was approximately 550 feet tall.
So, how large does a chunk of ice have to be to be called an iceberg? According to the definition, icebergs must protrude out of the water by at least 17 feet and have a minimum length of 50 feet.
As icebergs melt and become smaller, they are sometimes referred to as “growlers” due to the animal-like sounds they make when trapped air escapes during the melting process.
While ice cubes floating in your soda might seem harmless, icebergs floating in the ocean can be extremely dangerous to ships. In fact, an iceberg was responsible for one of the most devastating maritime disasters in history.
On the night of April 14, 1912, the RMS Titanic was crossing the North Atlantic when it collided with an iceberg. Although the ship’s lookouts had spotted the iceberg with enough time to avoid a head-on collision, the ship still struck the submerged portion of the iceberg.
The iceberg punctured the ship’s hull in multiple places, leading to the flooding of several compartments and compromising the ship’s buoyancy. The Titanic sank early the next morning, resulting in the loss of 1,517 passengers.
The Titanic had been deemed “unsinkable” by some due to its advanced design, numerous safety features, and immense size. However, it proved to be no match for the iceberg it encountered on that fateful night.
The sinking of the Titanic prompted the establishment of the International Ice Patrol, which continues to patrol the North Atlantic today, keeping a lookout for icebergs that could pose a threat to ships at sea.
The iceberg that sank the Titanic was likely exceptionally large. However, large icebergs are not necessarily more dangerous than smaller ones.
While larger icebergs are generally easier to spot for ships, smaller icebergs can hide amidst the waves of the ocean, making them more difficult to detect and thus more perilous.
If you’ve ever heard the saying “just the tip of the iceberg,” you might be surprised to know that there is a great deal of truth to it. People use this phrase to convey that what is visible is not the entirety of a situation.
This is literally the case with icebergs. The higher they extend above the water, the deeper their bases reach below the water. For most icebergs, the portion below the water’s surface is three to nine times the height above the water.
Despite the hazards they pose to ships, icebergs play a crucial role in the water cycle of nature. As icebergs melt, the resulting water evaporates into the air and forms clouds.
The wind carries a portion of those clouds over Greenland, where the cold air causes the moisture in the clouds to condense and fall as precipitation in the form of snow. Over thousands of years, the snow accumulates on Greenland and forms glaciers.
Gravity then forces these massive glaciers towards the sea. When they reach the ocean, the glaciers start to break apart and fall into the water, creating icebergs. As the icebergs travel and begin to melt, the cycle repeats itself!
Give it a try
If you find it difficult to imagine how icebergs form and exist in the cold waters of the North Atlantic, you can explore each step in the Life of an Iceberg by looking at pictures and maps!
Once you’ve finished exploring the life of an iceberg, you can make your own! Get some small plastic toys, a small bucket, and a spray mister. If needed, ask someone for assistance with this activity.
Follow the instructions for the Icebergs Ahead! activity to freeze some small plastic toys in your homemade iceberg, and then observe as it gradually melts to reveal your prizes!
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