Glaciers are large body of ice that move slowly down a valley or spread outward on land surface. Glaciers require special climatic conditions -- they are found mostly in places with high snowfall in the winters and very cool summers. These conditions ensure that the snow does not melt. Polar and high alpine regions are places where glaciers are more likely to form.
- Today 10% of land area is covered by glaciers compared to the last ice age, when glaciers covered 32% of the total land area.
- Glaciers store 75% of the world’s freshwater.
- Almost 90% of an iceberg is below water, only about 10% shows above water.
- Scientists believe that the Antarctic ice sheet has been in existence for at least 40 million years.
- If all the glaciers melted, sea level will rise nearly 70 meters worldwide.