On average, on which days of the year is the Earth covered by the most ice and the least ice respectively?

mementoflash

Well 90% of the world's ice is in the Antarctica: http://www.extremescience.com/ThickestIce.htm The prescence of much of the other 10% would seem to be largely based on climate changes which are hard to predict. One could say that there is more ice in the winter, but the northern hemisphere's winter is the southern hemisphere's summer. And then don't forget the greenhouse effect. I doubt a valid answer can be giving for this question. Feb 14 06, 10:43 PM

gmackematix

You're very defeatist sometimes MF! I will counter this by saying that in the interests of climatology, scientists are monitoring ice floes all year round so probably have some idea when ice tends to be at its peak. Anyway, the least ice is surely a result of the January time when not only is the south tilted towards the Earth but also when the Earth is closest to the Sun (at perihelion). Feb 15 06, 12:20 PM

mementoflash

I'm sorry, I try to positive. You are correct, there are probably time periods when there is more or less ice on the earth. However being that the question asks for "days" that would seem a little too specific for any accurate information. Feb 15 06, 2:51 PM

gmackematix

The majority of sea ice is found in the Antarctic and it has greater seasonal variation. The following graph is a monthly plot of sea ice area in the two regions and the seasonal pattern looks quite regular. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Sea-ice.area.nh.sh.png The link to the "Sea ice" article explains how the measurements are made and also tells us that while the amount of Antarctic ice forming varies little from year to year, amounts of Arctic ice are at an all time low and falling. Feb 15 06, 4:56 PM

Arpeggionist

So the end of June would see the most ice around Antarctica, statistically speaking... Also, much of the disturbing of the long term carbon cycle is done by people letting out car exhaust in cities, and most of those are in the northern hemisphere. The further south you go (statistically speaking), the less serious damage humans will have done. (Unless you count the big hole in the ozone layer which is over Antarctica and is doing its part in melting the snow...) Feb 15 06, 5:39 PM

Create a Free FunTrivia ID to add to, request more/new answers, or edit this entry

If global warming causes the Earth to get hotter, why will the eventual outcome be an Ice Age? What is Black Ice? Why is ice slippery? Who invented ice-cream?

1 "Will on Ice" This quiz is based on the 11th episode of the first season. Good luck! 'Will & Grace' - Season 1 Average 10 Q NalaMarie Mar 07 04 1023 plays 2 Ice Cream Ice Cream is the reason for living. It is my favorite aisle in the grocery store. Enjoy my first attempt at a quiz. Ice Cream Average 10 Q bunkobabe Jul 18 00 9663 plays 3 The Ice Storm Quiz on the movie 'The Ice Storm', which charts a few life-changing days in the lives of two families, the Hoods and the Carvers. I Average 10 Q bridget3 Oct 16 01 360 plays