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The Arctic ice cap consists of sea ice and the Greenland ice sheet . Sea ice can be several meters thick, while the Greenland ice sheet is several thousand feet thick in the interior.
Sea ice and ice sheets are two entirely separate things. The main being that ice sheets are formed from accumulated snow and are therefore entirely fresh water, while sea ice is frozen sea water. However, any salt that gets frozen into the ice - which itself is trapped in brine (liquid) pockets rather than incorporated into the crystalline structures - drains out with time.
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How could the ice caps form in Antarctica if it is a desert?
That an area is a desert does not mean that it is hot, just that there is very little precipitation. Antarctica gets very little snow, but it is cold enough that what little snow falls never melts. It has been like this for millions of years, allowing the snow to pile up and compress into ice sheets several miles thick.
What is the name of the thick layer of ice and snow that has formed permanent crust over Alaska and antarctica?
The thick layer of ice and snow that forms a permanent crust over Alaska and Antarctica is called an ice sheet. Ice sheets are massive expanses of glacier ice that cover large areas of land.
Why is it important to save antarctica?
Antarctica is a valuable source of scientific research on climate change, ice dynamics, and ecosystems. Preserving Antarctica helps to maintain the delicate balance of the Earth's climate. It also preserves unique habitats and biodiversity that are important for the health of our planet.
Which continent is the ozone hole over?
Ozone layer is depletion is happening in the stratosphere of the earth's atmosphere. It is majorly concentrated over Antarctica's atmosphere.
What continent is closest to the largest ozone hole?
The largest ozone hole is over Antarctica, which is a continent.
How could the ice caps form in Antarctica if it is a desert?
That an area is a desert does not mean that it is hot, just that there is very little precipitation. Antarctica gets very little snow, but it is cold enough that what little snow falls never melts. It has been like this for millions of years, allowing the snow to pile up and compress into ice sheets several miles thick.
How thick is the ice in Antarctica and what factors contribute to its thickness?
The ice in Antarctica can be up to several kilometers thick. Factors that contribute to its thickness include snowfall accumulation, compaction of snow into ice over time, and the movement of ice towards the coast.
Where are the polar ice caps?
Polar ice caps are high latitude regions that are covered in ice. Since for ice to form there has to be specific temperature ranges polar ice caps form only in very cold environments such as the North Pole (over water only), Greenland and Antarctica.
What is the only continent that's completely frozen in the soil?
Antarctica is the only continent that is completely frozen in the soil. The majority of the continent is covered in ice, with thick ice sheets that have formed over millions of years.
How are ice caps formed?
Ice caps form when snow accumulates in a region over time and compacts into ice due to pressure. This process creates a thick layer of ice that covers the land beneath it. High snowfall and cold temperatures are key factors in the formation of ice caps.
When you fly over over antarctica where are you?
You are over Antarctica in an airplane, probably.
How far below sea level is Antarctica?
Antarctica is not below sea level. It is a continent mostly covered by thick ice sheets, with its surface elevation reaching heights of over 4,000 meters above sea level.
Why is Antarctica's climate important to other parts of the world?
Antarctica is called the Earth's heat sink, which attracts excess heat from all over the planet.
Why don't seals get snow blindness?
Because they have thick layers over their eyes which prevent them getting blinded.However we are not made to live in Antarctica so we get snow blindness.
How did earths climate change in the Quaternary period?
thick continental glaciers advanced and retreated over parts of Europe and North America causeing it to be cold.sorry for the crappy spelling ;)
Where is the thickest ice in the world?
The thickest ice in the world can be found in Antarctica, particularly in the central part of the continent where the ice sheet can reach over 3 miles (5 kilometers) in thickness. This ice is layered over millions of years and is a critical component of Earth's climate system.
What is the name of the thick layer of ice and snow that has formed permanent crust over Alaska and antarctica?
The thick layer of ice and snow that forms a permanent crust over Alaska and Antarctica is called an ice sheet. Ice sheets are massive expanses of glacier ice that cover large areas of land.
