Why Does Old Glacier Ice Fizz and Pop When It Melts?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why does old glacier ice fizz and pop when it melts?

The Big Idea

Old glacier ice fizzes and pops because it holds tiny bubbles of ancient air! Those bubbles were squeezed in when the ice formed, under high pressure. When the ice melts, the air bursts free.

Snow Squashed

Step one: snow gets squashed. Glacier ice starts as snow that piles up year after year. Heavy layers squash it, over hundreds or thousands of years, until it turns into hard ice.

Bubbles Trapped

Step two: bubbles get trapped. As the snow turns to ice, tiny pockets of air are sealed inside. The air in those bubbles is squeezed under high pressure.

Melt and Pop

Step three: melt and pop. When the ice melts, the walls around each bubble thin out. The old air bursts free with a tiny pop or fizz.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! The ice began as snow long, long ago. Tiny bubbles of old air are locked inside. As the ice melts, the bubbles are set free. And you may hear a little pop or fizz.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Air bubbles in some Antarctic ice are hundreds of thousands of years old. Scientists study that air to learn what Earth's atmosphere was like long ago. It is like opening a time capsule of air. Ice cores are drilled and stored very carefully.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Drop an ice cube into a glass of room-temperature water, with a grown-up nearby. Listen closely. Do you hear any cracks or pops? Air and stress make ice sing! Share what you discover with a grown-up.

Outro

Old glacier ice pops because it holds bubbles of ancient air. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!