What Is an Ice Shelf?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. What is an ice shelf?

The Big Idea

An ice shelf is a thick, floating platform of ice that is attached to the land! It sticks out over the sea like a giant frozen shelf. Let's explore it.

Glaciers Flow

Step one: glaciers flow. Glaciers carry ice from the ice sheet down toward the coast. They slowly flow out onto the sea.

Spreading Out

Step two: spreading out. There, the ice spreads out over the water, but stays attached to the land. In places, it is more than a thousand feet thick.

Icebergs Break Off

Step three: icebergs break off. Pieces of the front edge break off and drift away as icebergs. New ice flows in to replace them.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! One side is attached to land. The rest floats on the sea. It can be hundreds of feet thick. From time to time, big pieces break off as icebergs. The Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica is about as large as France.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! The Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica is about as large as France. Parts of an ice shelf can be more than a thousand feet thick. Ice shelves hold back glaciers behind them. Look at maps of Antarctica with a grown-up. Ice shelves float, but they are still tied to the land.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, be an explorer! Spread a thick layer of frosting on a tilted plate. Watch it slowly creep downhill. Real ice shelves are made of much stiffer ice that also flows. Ask a grown-up before you start, and wash your hands.

Outro

An ice shelf is thick ice floating at the edge of the land. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!