Iceberg Alley EarthCache
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Whales, birds and icebergs... fantastic reasons to visit this incredible region. This Earthcache will focus on the icebergs in this region. To claim this Earthcache, you will need to answer the following questions. Please send your answers to the cache owner in a separate email. To find out where the icebergs are, visit http://www.icebergfinder.com/
The answers can be found at the posted coordinates.
1. The icebergs in this region have originated from glaciers off _____ Greenland.
2. The icebergs appear in Newfoundland after _________ of travel and are carried south by the ___________________.
3. Icebergs are most abundant in this location from ______ to ______.
4. Using the chart and information below, what type of iceberg do you see from this location and approximately, how big is it? In the event there are no icebergs present, estimate the size and type of iceberg shown on the sign/monument at the coordinates.
5. If you are able and interested, please include a photo of an iceberg at this location.
The waters off Fishing Point are the summer home to majestic, thousand year old icebergs, which are the among the highlights of things to see in Newfoundland.
How are icebergs formed? An iceberg begins on land in the form of a glacier. Glaciers form on land as a result of snow accumulating over thousands of years. Layers of snow and ice press on previous accumulations until they are 60 to 70 metres thick and glacial ice is formed. Therefore, icebergs are made of fresh water. Glaciers flow, or creep, outward under their own weight. When the edge of a glacier ‘flows’ into the ocean, the pieces that break off are what we call icebergs. This is called ‘calving’. The origins of the North Atlantic icebergs are the tidewater glaciers of Greenland where 30 thousand to 40 thousand are calved annually.
The average drift speed of icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland is around 0.2 m/s (0.7km/h). Iceberg drift speed depends upon many factors including iceberg size and shape, currents, waves and wind. Originating at around 75 degrees north latitude in Baffin Bay, an iceberg may travel up to 4000 km south to around 40 degrees north latitude (about 800km south of St. John’s). Rare sightings in Bermuda and Ireland have occurred.
About 7/8ths of an iceberg is below the water line. This figure is approximate as all icebergs are different. This number is based on the mass of the iceberg.
A fantastic variety of shapes result from both the formation and deterioration processes of icebergs. Like snowflakes, no two icebergs are exactly the same, but there are certain basic categories of shapes that are used for iceberg observations.
TABULAR: Steep sides with a flat top - like a huge tablet. These are very solid and often break away from ice sheets or ice shelves. Many show horizontal banding from the layers of ice that built up as the sheet formed.
DOME: Well, sort of rounded, of course!
BLOCKY: A flat-topped, block-shaped icebergs with steep vertical sides.
WEDGE: As the name implies, it's like a wedge. The top narrows to a pyramid-like point.
DRYDOCK: An iceberg which is eroded to form a little U-shaped harbor-like enclosure - like a drydock.
PINNACLE: An iceberg with one or more spires. In addition to shape, icebergs are also classified as to size. See the chart below for more information.
| Size Category |
Height |
Length |
| Growler |
Less than 1 metre (3.3 ft) |
Less than 5 metres (16 ft) |
| Bergy Bit |
1–5 metres (3.3–16 ft) |
5–15 metres (16–49 ft) |
| Small |
5–15 metres (16–49 ft) |
15–60 metres (49–200 ft) |
| Medium |
15–45 metres (49–148 ft) |
60–120 metres (200–390 ft) |
| Large |
45–75 metres (148–246 ft) |
120–200 metres (390–660 ft) |
| Very Large |
Over 75 metres (246 ft) |
Over 200 metres (660 ft)
|
Sources: St. Anthony Museum and Visitor Centre; http://www.athropolis.com/arctic-facts/fact-iceberg-type.htm
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