Density of Ice Flashcards
What role does salt water play in the Earth’s environment?
Salt water plays a key role in transporting heat energy around the planet and significantly affects weather systems.
How does the density of solid water (ice) compare to liquid water?
The density of ice is lower than the density of liquid water, which means ice floats on water.
Why is it surprising that ice floats on water?
It is surprising because, typically, the solid state of a substance is denser than its liquid state, and solids usually sink in their liquids.
What percentage of Earth’s water is trapped in the form of ice?
About 1.7% of Earth’s water is trapped as ice.
How does polar ice influence the Earth’s climate?
Polar ice acts as a ‘heat sink,’ cooling the air above it even when local temperatures are warm.
What would happen to sea levels if the Greenland ice sheet melted?
If the Greenland ice sheet melted, the sea level would rise by about 6 meters.
What would happen to sea levels if the Antarctic ice sheet melted?
If the Antarctic ice sheet melted, the sea level would rise by about 60 meters.
Why does floating ice not significantly change the volume of the oceans when it melts?
Most of the volume of floating ice, like icebergs, is beneath the sea surface, so its melting does not significantly increase ocean volume.
How would the melting of land-based ice affect the oceans?
Melting of land-based ice would cause liquid water to run off into the oceans, increasing their volume and raising sea levels.
What percentage of the Earth’s freshwater ice is contained in the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets?
The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets together account for 99% of Earth’s freshwater ice.
What are the potential consequences of a major global warming event on sea levels?
A major global warming event could result in sea levels rising by 60 to 70 meters, flooding areas lower than this elevation and radically changing climate patterns.
