Question 2 of 21

How much of the world's freshwater supply is frozen in ice?

... Just 2.5 percent of water on the Earth is fresh, and almost 70 percent of that freshwater is frozen in glaciers and ice caps. The remaining 30 percent can be found in groundwater, with just a small amount found in above-ground lakes and rivers.

Question 3 of 21

What term do scientists use to describe a section of ice breaking off of a glacier?

... Calving occurs when a chunk of ice breaks off of a glacier, forming an iceberg. In 2012, the massive Petermann Glacier near Greenland calved an iceberg nearly twice the size of Manhattan.

Question 4 of 21

Fact or fiction: The ice in most glaciers has been frozen there for millions of years.

... Fiction: Most glaciers are relatively young, though a small percentage could possibly contain ancient sections of ice. In Alaska, the majority of glaciers are made of ice that is less than a hundred years old.

Question 5 of 21

How old is the oldest ice on Earth?

... The oldest ice on Earth formed more than 8 million years ago. It can be found within the valleys of the Transantarctic Mountains of Antarctica.

Question 6 of 21

How much of the Earth is permanently covered by ice or snow?

... Around 10 percent of the Earth is permanently covered by ice and snow, and another 30 percent of land on Earth receives seasonal snow. Permafrost underlies about 26 percent of all land on the planet.

Question 7 of 21

What percentage of recent sea ice loss in the Arctic is caused by humans?

... Just 5 to 30 percent of sea ice loss we've measured in the Arctic can be attributed to seasonal climate variations. The vast majority of sea ice in the region is lost due to climate change brought on by human activity.

Question 8 of 21

Fact or fiction: The ice sheets that cover Greenland and Antarctica are highly sensitive to changes in temperature.

... Fact: Despite the great size of these frozen zones, just a small change in temperature can dramatically affect the massive ice sheets that cover Greenland and Antarctica.

Question 9 of 21

Fact or fiction: Glaciers start off white, then develop a blue hue over time.

... Fact: Glaciers start off white in color. As snow continues to build, the weight and pressure of the new flakes eliminate air bubbles within the glacier, causing the structure to reflect blue light.

Question 10 of 21

Which of these locations is home to massive glaciers?

... Scientists have spotted massive glaciers buried underground on Mars. These glaciers are situated around the edges of mountain ranges, and can extend for miles. The glaciers on Mars share a number of similarities with underground glaciers found in Antarctica.

Question 11 of 21

Fact or fiction: Glaciers move over land like giant frozen rivers.

... Fact: While glaciers appear stationary, they are continuously moving over the land. As soon as the snow and ice reach 60 to 100 feet (18 to 30 meters), the weight of new snow drives the glacier forward like a river.

Question 12 of 21

How many continental glaciers are found on Earth?

... Just two continental glaciers, or ice sheets, are found on Earth. They include the massive ice sheets located on Greenland and Antarctica.

Question 13 of 21

Which of these terms describes a glacier that clings to the side of a mountain?

... An ice apron, or "hanging glacier," is a type of glacier that forms along the side of a steep mountain. These types of glaciers are very common in the Swiss Alps.

Question 14 of 21

Fact or fiction: More than 97 percent of the surface ice sheet on Greenland thawed in July 2012.

... Fact: While more than 97 percent of Greenland's surface ice sheet thawed in July 2012, it's not necessarily something to worry about. By studying ice cores, scientists have determined that Greenland's surface ice sheet naturally melts every 150 years or so thanks to climate variations. The area last experienced a major meltdown in 1889, which puts the 2012 melt right about on track.

Question 15 of 21

Fact or fiction: Some evidence suggests that the entire surface of the Earth was once covered by ice.

... Fact: There is evidence that during the Cryogenian period, which lasted from 850 to 630 million years ago, the Earth was basically a giant ball of ice. Scientists believe that 700 million years ago, even the equator was covered by a sheet of ice.

Question 16 of 21

Fact or fiction: Scientists have often found frozen mammoths and other ancient beasts within glaciers.

... Fiction: Prehistoric mammals, including mammoths, have usually been found in permafrost, not glaciers. The movement of a glacier over the land as it forms would pulverize any living creatures instead of preserving them.

Question 17 of 21

How much are sea levels rising each year thanks to melting ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica?

... Over the 20-year period from 1986 to 2006, sea levels rose an average of 0.05 inches (1.3 millimeters) per year due to melting ice sheets. While this seems low, small changes in sea level can have major effects on coastal areas, and the melting pace seems to be accelerating, so it's unclear how fast sea levels could rise in the future.

Question 18 of 21

How many glaciers can you explore in Glacier National Park as of 2012?

... In 1850, Glacier National Park was home to 150 glaciers. Now, just 26 remain. The U.S. National Park Service warns that if the current global warming trend continues, there will be no glaciers left in the park by 2020.

Question 19 of 21

Fact or fiction: The icy continent of Antarctica was once home to vegetation and grasslands.

... Fact: Just 34 million years ago, Antarctica was largely free of ice. Around that time, small glaciers began to form in Antarctica's Gamburtsev Mountains. Today, these mountains lie completely buried more than 2.4 miles (about 4,000 meters) below the ice.

Question 20 of 21

How much would global sea levels rise if the ice sheet over Antarctica melted completely?

... If the ice sheet covering Antarctica were to melt, sea levels would rise about 200 feet (60 meters), which could completely change the shape of coastlines around the world.

Question 21 of 21

Where will you find the greatest levels of sea ice, or ice that forms over the ocean?

... The land masses around the Arctic region help to keep ice contained, which allows it to cover a greater area and grow much thicker than sea ice around Antarctica. Ice that forms around Antarctica has relatively little land to trap it in place, so it eventually floats toward the north and melts.

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