Icebergs

An iceberg is like an ice island. Ice bergs can float and they can also be stationery as
they can sometimes be attached to the bottom of the ocean. Most ice bergs will only
show about 10% from above the water level. Most of the ice berg is below the water. If
you see an ice berg you can multiply that size by nine and you should be able to
estimate the full size of the ice berg. Ice bergs can be found in very cold areas, such as,
Antarctica and the Arctic Ocean. They vary in size depending on the time of year and
the seasons. Ice bergs are large freezing islands that can move around depending on
the currents and strong winds.

This is an iceberg that has two different islands of ice.

Below the surface the actually size is revealed. It is much
bigger than what can be seen from the top view.

Icebergs form when chunks of ice clave, or break off from glaciers, ice shelves, or form
from lager icebergs. Icebergs travel with ocean currents whether they are going left,
right, up or down. They can sometimes smash up against the shore or get caught in
shallow waters which may change their direction.

When an iceberg reaches warm water, (from about 10 degrees Celsius) the new
climate attacks it from all sides. On the iceberg surface, (like our skin) warm air melts
snow and ice into pools called melted ponds that can trickle through the iceberg and
widen the crakes. At the same time, warm water laps at the edge of the iceberg, melting
the ice and causing chunks of ice to break off. On the underside, warmer waters melt
the iceberg from the bottom up.

Ice bergs change their size and shape when moving into warmer areas. Scientists
believe that human activity, such as global warming has significantly impacted the
melting of ice bergs and glaciers. Sea water levels rise and more ice is exposed to the
elements. This means wind, sun and rain can influence how an ice berg looks and is
shaped.

Billy 5CW
The warm and cold currents also influence ocean temperatures and plays a part in
melting icebergs.

This is a diagram of warm shallow

currents and cold deep currents.
These currents influence the overall
temperature of the ocean.

Global warming is when humans omit carbon into the atmosphere. This heat gets
trapped in our ozone layer; therefore, it will raise temperatures. This melts ice bergs.
More and more ice bergs are made because they are breaking away from larger
glaciers. The changing of ice bergs is not a natural cause or phenomenon. It is caused
by human activity. Factories and car pollution are the main influencers for carbon
omissions. Humans have tilted the balance and this has severe consequences on the
world’s colder regions. We live in an industrialized world. This means factories are
polluting more than ever. Human activity is to blame for the changing conditions of
icebergs.

This is a picture of a factory spewing

out carbon. This pollution is
responsible for global warming.
Global warming impacts the
temperature of the air.

The North and South Pole are very important places as they keep the Earth’s
temperature in check and balance average temperatures out. Recordings have shown
that over the last 100 years temperatures have been dropping rapidly. If this pattern
continues the consequences will be irreversible. This means we cannot take the
changes back and turn it around. Governments and individuals need to do their part to
regulate and enforce stricter rules and build awareness. We need to take action to
protect ice bergs and prevent global warming.
Billy 5CW