ice layer
Slick frozen surface
An ice layer is a distinct stratum of ice within a larger mass—whether in glaciers, polar ice caps, or frozen ground.
Scientists analyze ice layers to study climate history, as each layer preserves atmospheric conditions from when it formed: The ice layer from 10,000 years ago contained volcanic ash.
Ice layers also form problematically on roads, aircraft wings, or within snowpack, where they can trigger avalanches.
- glacierSlow-moving ice mass
- permafrostPerpetually frozen earth layer
- frostThin ice coating
- frozenSolidified by extreme cold
- crustHard outer layer
sheet · glaze · rime · surface · slick · coating · pond · skating · skating rink · cracking · thin · thick · melt · slippery · winter · polar · arctic · floe
- iceiceberg, floe, skating rink, rink, polar cap
- lake icefrozen lake, frozen lakes, freeze-up, slush, icebound
- snowpacksnow depth, snow cover, snowpack, powder snow, stratigraphy
- river icefreeze-up, breakup
- geologybedrock, fault lines, faults, rock, basalt
- Snowsnowflake, snowfall, snowpack, snowfield, snowbank
frozen vs. unfrozen water states
ice layeropen water
Unobstructed body navigable freely
liquid water · meltwater · warm water · clear water · puddle