Changes in the cryosphere

Match the type of ice formation with the description

• Floating mass of ice attached to land.

• Sea ice

• Frozen seawater that forms on the ocean surface.

• Glacier

• Less than 50km2 of ice, own topography

• Ice cap

• Over 50km2 of ice.

• Ice sheet

• Slowly moving mass of ice.

• Ice shelf

Which of these is the best definition of albedo?

• The density of a surface material.
• The color of a surface in sunlight.
• The amount of heat absorbed by a surface.
• The measure of reflectivity of a surface.

Meltwater from the surface of a glacier can flow down through cracks in the ice to the bottom of the glacier. What does this do?

• It causes the glacier to freeze more quickly.
• It creates large icebergs that break off.
• It lubricates the base of the glacier, speeding up its movement.

• It prevents the glacier from moving at all.

Why is it a problem if ice shelves are broken up more often and easily due to rising sea levels?

• It can lead to destabiliation of glaciers and ice sheets that the ice shelves blocking the movement of.

• It makes sea ice form in a less stable way.

• It has a big impact on temperatures and release of carbon to the atmosphere.

• It will improve marine biodiversity.

What is this a photo of?

• An ice shelf

• A glacier

• A tropical rainforest with dense foliage.
• An iceberg

Where are the only two ice sheets in the world?

• Arctic

• Antarctica

• Greenland

• Siberia

What is this a photo of and where was it taken?

• Ice field in the Arctic

• Sea ice in Antarctica

• Iceberg in the Arctic

• Sea ice in the Arctic

What effect is climate change having on sea ice in the Arctic?

• Less is forming each year and soon the summers maybe ice free.

• Less is forming each year, especially in winter

• The ice forming is less thick

• More is forming in the winter, less in the summer.

Why might warmer conditions be a problem for ice and snow-fed rivers?

• Warmer conditions lead to huge and sudden meltwater events in spring.

• Warmer conditions can lead to more ice formation in rivers.
• Warmer conditions can affect river flow patterns.

• Warmer conditions can increase rainwater flow into these rivers.

Why are glaciers retreating due to climate change?

• Glaciers are retreating because they are not receiving enough snow.

• The front end of glaciers are melting faster than they are moving forwards.

• Because there are more icebergs in the sea.

• Glaciers are retreating due to increased snowfall.