A glacier is a large moving mass of ice that slowly flows over land.  The snowfall and the low temperatures enable it to turn into ice.Seventeen percent of the world’s  fresh water is stored in glaciers.Glaciers cover over  75,000 square kilometers in the United States with most found in Alaska.
 Worldwide sea level would rise approximately 70 meters if all land ice melted so engineers have created artificial channels to prevent flooding when glaciers melt.
 Glacier ice crystals grow to be different sizes and some can become as big as baseballs. Glacial ice reflects blue because it absorbs all other colors so it often appears this color. Glaciers ice crystals grow on the ten percent of the glacier that shows above water. Ninty percent of the glacier is hidden under the water.

click here for a great picture of a alaskan glacier
photo (c) nicholson used with permission
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TRUE & FALSE

43%of the world’s fresh water is stored in glaciers.
      True              False
 

With most located in Alaska, over 75,000square kilometers are covered with glacier’s inthe U.S.
           True                False

Sea level would rise approximately 70 meters worldwide if all land ice melted.
            True                            False

Glacial ice crystals appear white.
True                     False

Glaciers’ ice crystals can grow to be as big as baseballs.
   True    False

Engineers have created artificial dams to prevent flooding  when glaciers melt.
         True               False

Ice crystals grow on the part of the glacier that is underwater.
 True           False
 
 

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