What is an iceberg: definition and how it is formed

The icebergs are Ice masseswhich are bodies of frozen water due to low temperature and that have detached themselves from another larger ice. These are the other characteristics of the icebergs:

• They are arranged in seas and oceans, but they are not made of salt water. Icebergs are composed of fresh water. In fact, Much of the fresh water reserves is found in the icebergs.
• As for its location, they are drifting in sea water. Many can explore great distances due to their high flexibility condition, which we explain in detail later. The majority They originate in Greenland and Antarcticwhere 70% of the planet’s fresh water reserves is located.
• They are called iceberg because the word comes from the Dutch “Ijsberg”, which in English was derived in iceberg. It is translated as “ice mountain.” In Spanish you can also call them tiles.
• It is estimated that more than 16 thousand icebergs are produced annually with 3 million cubic meters of fresh water.
• They are very dangerous for boats because only You can see a part floating on the water, while most are hidden under the surface. By drifting, they can occur as unexpected obstacles on maritime routes. Not only is there a risk of a mild shock, but they can also break ships and cause sinking for their great hardness.

Here you can learn more about what are the physical states of water.

An iceberg originates from the Erosion of the huge ice barriers. This erosion generates superficial cracks that are open by the pressure and tension of the ice that are over them. When the cracks extend and reach the sea level, the iceberg is formed. This process is known as Glacier detachment. Thus, large blocks of ice fall to the sea water and remain afloat.

Here you can learn more about glacier erosion: definition, types and examples.

Making an analogy of a glass of water with ice and an iceberg in the sea, we can imagine what the dynamics of these ice bodies are like. The icebergs float because Frozen water has a lower density than water in a liquid state. This is because the chemical composition of solid water has a crystalline shape, therefore having more flotability than a solid itself.

Both an iceberg and a glacier are formed by frozen water at very low temperatures, but they are not the same.

• As we have reviewed, An iceberg is formed by the breakage of an ice barrier. It can also happen by The fissure of a glacier. It is formed by a single event and is not continuous. It can break in smaller icebergs, but it cannot grow in size, as with the following case.
• A glacier is formed by snow accumulation. For pressure, this snow an ice is compacted and formed called glacier. The snow is continually accumulated and the size of the glacier increases.
• Another difference lies in the location of these ice masses. The iceberg is floating to drift in seas, while glaciers occur on the mainland. Icebergs are wandering and glaciers are static.

We recommend reading this other post about what glaciers are.

The world’s largest iceberg was The Iceberg B-15. He has earned the first place because he is the largest that has been captured by satellite photography. It was in him year 2000 when it was detected and stood in Antarctica. Originated from Ross’s ice barrier and it is suggested that such separations are part of natural ice cycles that occur every so often. It had an area of ​​11,000 km² and measured 295 for 37 kilometers. Over time it was fragmented in smaller icebergs that floated the Drift of the Antarctic Ocean, with the last fragment sighted in 2011.

Currently, there is a categorization of icebergs sizes created by the International Thread Patrol, an instance dedicated to monitor the icebergs and warn of possible risks. The smallest icebergs less than a meter high are called “Growler” or small icebergs. The following size is called “Bergy Bit” and measure 1 to 3 meters high. The small, medium and large sizes follow and the classification ends with the “very large” size with icebergs more than 75 meters high.

Now that you know what an iceberg is, how it is formed and more details, we recommend you to continue learning about water discovering perpetual ice: climate, flora, fauna and images.

If you want to read more articles similar to What is an iceberg: definition and how it is formedwe recommend that you enter our category of other environment.