Sea ice
Sea Ice
Sea ice (pronunciation: /siː aɪs/) is a type of frozen water that forms from the ocean's surface. It occurs in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions, as well as in parts of the North Atlantic, the Baltic Sea, and the Hudson Bay.
Etymology
The term "sea ice" originates from the Old English word "sǣ", meaning "sea", and the Middle English word "is", meaning "ice".
Formation
Sea ice forms when the surface of the ocean freezes. This typically occurs in the polar regions where the air and water temperatures are below freezing. The process begins with the formation of tiny ice crystals in the water, which eventually merge to form larger pieces known as ice floes.
Types of Sea Ice
There are two main types of sea ice: First-year ice and Multi-year ice. First-year ice refers to sea ice that has formed in the most recent freeze season, while multi-year ice has survived at least one summer melt season.
Related Terms
- Iceberg: A large piece of freshwater ice that has broken off a glacier or an ice shelf and is floating freely in open water.
- Pack ice: A floating layer of sea ice that completely covers an area of the ocean surface.
- Polar ice cap: A high-latitude region of a planet or moon that is covered in ice.
- Ice shelf: A thick, floating platform of ice that forms where a glacier or ice sheet flows down to a coastline and onto the ocean surface.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sea ice
- Wikipedia's article - Sea ice
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