ice shelf
Ice shelves form where glaciers flow into the ocean. This topic is part of Cryosphere within Science & Nature. This page currently draws on 5 supporting questions, with answers and bonus facts available below.
ice shelf trivia questions
An ice shelf is a floating extension of what?
Answer: Land ice
Bonus fact: Ice shelves form where glaciers flow into the ocean.
Ice shelves are especially common around which continent?
Answer: Antarctica
Bonus fact: Huge Antarctic ice shelves fringe the continent.
Why can ice-shelf loss accelerate sea-level rise indirectly?
Answer: It removes resistance that slows glaciers
Bonus fact: Without buttressing, land glaciers can flow faster into the sea.
What process creates many icebergs when chunks break from the edge of a glacier or ice shelf?
Answer: Calving
Bonus fact: Calving is the breaking off of ice from a glacier terminus or ice shelf.
What base did Byrd establish on the Ross Ice Shelf during his first Antarctic expedition?
Answer: Little America
Bonus fact: Several later U.S. Antarctic expeditions reused the Little America name for nearby bases.