How are they formed?

Icebergs form when chunks of ice break off from a larger iceberg.

Why are they cold?

As sea ice breaks up, it sends more icebergs into the North Atlantic.

Less Arctic ice means that there is more water exposed and liquid

water absorbs more heat.

How do they float on water?

Icebergs float because as water freezes, it expands and becomes

less dense.

How much do they weigh?

The average weight of an iceberg is one to two hundred thousand tonnes!

How big are they?

There are many different sizes for an iceberg. They vary from very large,

to large, to medium and then small. A very large iceberg weighs greater

than ten million tonnes and is hundreds of metres long.

Can icebergs move?

Once formed, icebergs are moved by winds and currents, drifting

either north or south towards the equator where they eventually melt.

Calve-to split and shed an iceberg or glacier.

Ice shelf-a floating sheet of ice permanently attached to a land mass.

Glacier-a slowly moving mass or river of ice.

Melt ponds-pools of open water that form on sea ice, glacial ice and ice

shelves during the warmer months of Spring and Summer.

Growler-a small iceberg.

By

Sophie Allberry