An iceberg is a large piece of freshwater ice that has broken off from a snow-formed glacier or ice shelf and is floating in open water.

Icebergs are white, blue, or green and sometimes even black due to rock materials that were first in the glacier and ended in the sea because of the iceberg.

Icebergs of the Antarctic not only are far more abundant but are of enormous dimensions compared with those in the Arctic. Ninety-three percent of the world’s mass of icebergs is found surrounding the Antarctic.

Usually 1/8th of an iceberg is above the waterline.

At the glacier’s terminus or end, huge slabs of ice are weakened and then broken by the action of the rising and falling tides. This process is called calving and results in an iceberg’s birth.

Icebergs are classified into shapes and sizes.

Small icebergs are called growlers and are less than 5 metres whilst the very large icebergs are over 213 metres.

Icebergs are also classified depending on their shapes which range from tabular, pinnacle, wedge to dry dock.

As a result of global warming - impacts are being seeing most dramatically in places like the Antarctic where glaciers are melting and sea temperatures are rising.

For more information go to the Australian Antarctic division website