Knowra Ice cap Ice cap An ice cap is a dome-shaped mass of glacial ice covering less than 50,000 square kilometers of land. It spreads outward under its own weight and can feed outlet glaciers.
Ice sheet : A continental-scale mass of glacial ice covering more than 50,000 square kilometers of land. The size threshold distinguishes ice sheets from ice caps, though both flow outward under gravity.
Vatnajökull : A large ice cap in southeastern Iceland, covering volcanoes and feeding numerous outlet glaciers. Its volcanic bed, subglacial eruptions, and extensive drainage make it a distinctive example.
Ice core : A cylindrical sample of ice drilled from a glacier or ice sheet, preserving layered records of past snowfall and atmosphere. Cores from ice caps can preserve local records of past climate and atmospheric composition.
Ice field : A broad area of interconnected glacier ice whose flow is strongly guided by surrounding topography. Unlike a dome-shaped cap, an ice field is divided and directed by mountain terrain.
Glacier : A persistent mass of land ice that moves under its own weight. An ice cap is a broad glacier system with ice flowing radially from a dome.
Langjökull : Iceland's second-largest ice cap, located in the country's west-central highlands. It illustrates the distribution and changing extent of Icelandic ice caps.
Sea-level rise : An increase in the average level of the world's oceans relative to land. Meltwater from land-based ice caps adds water to the oceans.
Ice shelf : A floating extension of a glacier or ice sheet that remains attached to land ice. An ice shelf floats on seawater, whereas an ice cap rests on land.
Ice divide : A ridge or boundary separating areas of an ice mass that flow in different directions. Near the dome, ice divides direct flow toward separate margins and outlet valleys.
Hofsjökull : An ice cap in central Iceland that overlies a volcanic system and feeds several rivers. Its central position and radial drainage exemplify dome-shaped ice flow.
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