Ice

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Antarctica

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90% of the world's ice is in Antarctica.

Antarctica contains more than 90% of the world’s ice. The ice comes in different forms:

Ice Sheet

Antarctica is a continent. It is covered by a layer of ice. This ice was formed over thousands of years from snow. This snow has been squashed down as new snow has fallen on top.

The Antarctic ice sheet is:

14 million km²
up to 4700m thick
holds 90% of the Earth’s fresh water

Ice Shelf

An ice shelf is formed when the ice sheet flows downhill into the sea. The ice shelf is made of fresh water.

The Ross Ice Shelf is one of the largest in the world. It covers an area nearly twice the size of New Zealand. The Ross Ice Shelf varies in thickness from over 1000m to less than 100m.

Sea Ice

Sea ice is formed on the surface of the ocean. The temperature of the water has to fall below –2 degrees C.

Sea ice has about 1% salt. The actual sea water has 3.5% salt. Ice is less dense (heavy) than water so it floats on the surface. The sea ice forms a layer several metres thick.

Each winter sea ice forms, although some parts do not melt the following summer.

Sea ice is not the same as icebergs. Icebergs break off the edges of ice shelves and so are made of fresh water.

Ready for a quiz? Try the 'Ice' interactive activity.

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At the South Pole you would be standing on top of over 3km of ice, at the North Pole on top of just 5m of it. How do you think this ice affects the climate and weather?

The ice sheet that covers almost all of Antarctica is made up of two ice sheets that merge into one. The East Antarctic ice sheet is the larger of the two. Image: NASA (edited).

The ice sheet that covers almost all of Antarctica is made up of two ice sheets that merge into one. The East Antarctic ice sheet is the larger of the two. Image: NASA (edited).

The Ross Ice Shelf is one of the largest in the world. It is a floating extension of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and is 100m thick at its leading edge. Image: Josh Landis, NSF.

The Ross Ice Shelf is one of the largest in the world. It is a floating extension of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and is 100m thick at its leading edge. Image: Josh Landis, NSF.

Sea ice viewed from the window of a C17 aircraft from a height of 9500m. Sea ice is formed on the ocean surface when the water temperature falls to -2°C. Image: LEARNZ.

Sea ice viewed from the window of a C17 aircraft from a height of 9500m. Sea ice is formed on the ocean surface when the water temperature falls to -2°C. Image: LEARNZ.

An ice shelf is formed when the ice sheet flows downhill into the sea. The ice shelf is made of fresh water. Can you see where the ice shelf meets the sea ice? Image: LEARNZ.

An ice shelf is formed when the ice sheet flows downhill into the sea. The ice shelf is made of fresh water. Can you see where the ice shelf meets the sea ice? Image: LEARNZ.

Icebergs break off the edges of ice shelves and so are made of fresh water. Icebergs move with the wind and ocean currents. Image: NASA.

Icebergs break off the edges of ice shelves and so are made of fresh water. Icebergs move with the wind and ocean currents. Image: NASA Goddard Space Flight.