icecap
Frozen continental cover
An icecap is a mass of ice and snow permanently covering a large area of land, smaller than an ice sheet but still substantial—typically found in polar regions or on high mountain plateaus.
Greenland and Antarctica have the largest.
The term also applies to frozen polar seas: Climate change is shrinking the Arctic icecap.
Also spelled ice cap.
Deep glacial fissure
- moraineGlacier-deposited debris pile
- seracGlacial ice pinnacle
- calvingIce mass separation
- firnYear-old compacting snow
ablation · icefield · retreat · advance · icefall · accumulation · meltwater · terminus
Solid-to-liquid transition
- warmingIncreasing in temperature
- albedoSurface reflection coefficient
- greenhouseClimate-controlled plant enclosure
- carbonSixth element, atomic symbol C
thermohaline · atmosphere · temperature · cryosphere · feedback · shrinking · collapse · thinning
Frozen crystalline precipitation
- frostThin ice coating
- frigidExtremely and intensely cold
- subzeroBelow the freezing point
- crystallineClear, ordered, brilliant
rime · hoarfrost · freezing · solid · cold · frozen · compacted · ancient
Of extreme northern cold
- permafrostPerpetually frozen earth layer
- tundraFrigid treeless biome
- penguinFlightless aquatic southern bird
- auroraAtmospheric light display
crevasse
Deep glacial fissure
firn · ablation · icefield · retreat · advance · icefall · accumulation · meltwater · terminus · glaciology
melting
Solid-to-liquid transition
- warmingIncreasing in temperature
- albedoSurface reflection coefficient
- greenhouseClimate-controlled plant enclosure
carbon · thermohaline · atmosphere · temperature · cryosphere · feedback · shrinking · collapse · thinning · monitoring
snow
Frozen crystalline precipitation
crystalline · rime · hoarfrost · freezing · solid · cold · frozen · compacted · ancient · layered
arctic
Of extreme northern cold
- permafrostPerpetually frozen earth layer
- tundraFrigid treeless biome
- penguinFlightless aquatic southern bird
aurora · icebreaker · walrus · seal · krill · blubber · igloo
summit
Peak or diplomatic gathering
- peakUtmost height attained
- elevationHeight above reference point
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
plateau · mountain · ridge · expanse · vastness · dome · sheet · continental · white · barren
- glacierscrevasse, moraine, iceberg, firn, cirque
- ArcticArctic Circle, Arctic Ocean, Arctic wildlife, Arctic exploration, Arctic research
icecaplava field
Solidified volcanic rock terrain
desert · magma · volcanic crater · molten rock · inferno
icecaptropics
Warm equatorial region
equatorial region · tropical rainforest · Sahara · jungle · equator