I WONDER - How Old Are Icebergs?

Icebergs, formed from compacted snow on glaciers and ice shelves, can be thousands of years old. They provide valuable insights into Earth's climate history through their ice layers, which may contain trapped air bubbles and particles. Scientists analyze these elements to understand past temperatures and atmospheric conditions.

What is the origin of the ice that forms icebergs?

• Rainwater that freezes

• Condensed atmospheric moisture

• Snow that has accumulated and compacted

• Water from melted glaciers

How old can the ice that forms icebergs be?

• Millions of years

• A few decades

• Hundreds of years

• Thousands of years

What valuable information can the layers of ice in an iceberg provide?

• Earth's climate history

• Ocean currents

• Current sea levels

• Future weather patterns

What can scientists learn from analyzing trapped air bubbles in icebergs?

• The iceberg's origin

• Past temperatures and atmospheric conditions

• The speed of glacier movement

• The age of the iceberg

What do scientists analyze to learn about past atmospheric conditions?

• Iceberg color

• Iceberg shape

• Trapped air bubbles and particles

• Iceberg size