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Iceberg Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

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Study Guide: Icebergs: Characteristics, Science, and Impact

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Icebergs: Characteristics, Science, and Impact Study Guide

Iceberg Fundamentals and Physics

According to the established definition, is any piece of ice floating freely in the ocean, irrespective of its size or origin, classified as an iceberg?

Answer: False

Explanation: The definition stipulates that an iceberg must be a piece of freshwater ice, originating from a glacier or ice shelf, and meeting a minimum size criterion (at least 15 meters in length) to be classified as such.

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Is approximately 90% of an iceberg's total volume typically submerged beneath the water's surface?

Answer: True

Explanation: Due to the density difference between freshwater ice and seawater, approximately 90% of an iceberg's volume remains submerged, adhering to Archimedes' principle.

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Does seawater possess a lower density than pure ice, which accounts for the buoyancy of icebergs?

Answer: False

Explanation: Seawater (approximately 1,025 kg/m³) is denser than pure ice (approximately 920 kg/m³). This density differential is the fundamental reason why icebergs float, with most of their mass submerged.

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Based on the provided text, what is the minimum length requirement for a piece of freshwater ice to be classified as an iceberg?

Answer: 15 meters

Explanation: The definition provided specifies that an iceberg must be at least 15 meters in length to qualify for this classification.

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What proportion of an iceberg's volume is typically visible above the water?

Answer: Approximately one-tenth (1/10)

Explanation: Due to the density difference between ice and seawater, approximately one-tenth of an iceberg's volume is typically visible above the water's surface.

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Based on the densities provided, why does an iceberg float?

Answer: Because the density of pure ice (920 kg/m³) is less than seawater (1,025 kg/m³).

Explanation: Icebergs float because the density of pure ice (approximately 920 kg/m³) is less than the density of seawater (approximately 1,025 kg/m³), causing it to be buoyant.

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Classification, Terminology, and Etymology

Does the idiom "tip of the iceberg" relate to the observation that the majority of an iceberg's mass is visible above the water's surface?

Answer: False

Explanation: The idiom "tip of the iceberg" refers to the fact that only a small portion is visible, implying that the majority of the issue or problem is submerged and unseen.

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Is the English term 'iceberg' a direct loan translation from the Dutch word 'ijsberg,' signifying 'ice mountain'?

Answer: True

Explanation: The etymology indicates that the English word 'iceberg' is indeed a partial loan translation from the Dutch 'ijsberg,' meaning 'ice mountain,' and shares cognates with related Germanic languages.

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Is a 'growler' classified as a larger iceberg, measuring between 1 to 5 meters in height?

Answer: False

Explanation: A 'growler' is defined as a smaller piece of ice, typically less than 1 meter in height and less than 5 meters in length. A 'bergy bit' is larger, measuring 1 to 5 meters in height.

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Is a 'bergy bit' smaller than a 'growler' according to standard iceberg size classifications?

Answer: False

Explanation: A 'bergy bit' is larger than a 'growler.' Growlers are less than 1 meter high, while bergy bits range from 1 to 5 meters in height.

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Are tabular icebergs characterized by their steep sides and flat tops, often originating from ice shelves?

Answer: True

Explanation: Tabular icebergs are indeed defined by their steep sides, flat tops, and a length-to-height ratio greater than 5:1, and they commonly calve from ice shelves.

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Do non-tabular iceberg shapes include Dome, Pinnacle, Wedge, Dry-dock, and Blocky?

Answer: True

Explanation: The text lists Dome, Pinnacle, Wedge, Dry-dock, and Blocky as examples of non-tabular iceberg shapes, contrasting with tabular icebergs.

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What common idiom is derived from the observation that most of an iceberg is submerged?

Answer: The tip of the iceberg

Explanation: The idiom "tip of the iceberg" metaphorically represents a situation where only a small, visible part of a larger, unseen problem or issue is apparent.

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Which of the following best describes the etymological origin of the English word "iceberg"?

Answer: It is a loan translation from the Dutch "ijsberg," meaning "ice mountain."

Explanation: The English term 'iceberg' is a partial loan translation from the Dutch word 'ijsberg,' which literally translates to 'ice mountain.'

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According to the International Ice Patrol's classification, what distinguishes a "bergy bit" from a "growler"?

Answer: A bergy bit is larger than a growler, with a height between 1 to 5 meters.

Explanation: A 'growler' is defined as having a height less than 1 meter, whereas a 'bergy bit' is larger, with a height between 1 to 5 meters.

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Which type of iceberg is characterized by steep sides, a flat top, and a length-to-height ratio greater than 5:1?

Answer: Tabular iceberg

Explanation: Tabular icebergs are defined by their flat tops, steep sides, and a length-to-height ratio exceeding 5:1, often originating from ice shelves.

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Formation, Processes, and Characteristics

Does the freshwater released by melting icebergs increase the density of the surrounding seawater?

Answer: False

Explanation: The release of freshwater from melting icebergs dilutes the surrounding seawater, thereby decreasing its density and causing the meltwater to rise.

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Is the fizzing sound heard from melting icebergs, known as "Bergie Seltzer," caused by the rapid evaporation of surface ice?

Answer: False

Explanation: The 'Bergie Seltzer' phenomenon is attributed to the release of compressed air bubbles trapped within the ice as it melts, not surface evaporation.

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Can an iceberg flip or capsize due to alterations in its center of gravity resulting from melting or structural changes?

Answer: True

Explanation: As icebergs melt unevenly or break apart, their center of gravity can shift, potentially leading to instability and causing them to capsize.

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Are "glacial earthquakes" seismic events caused by the movement of tectonic plates beneath glaciers?

Answer: False

Explanation: Glacial earthquakes are generated by the dynamic process of large icebergs calving and flipping onto the glacier face, not by tectonic plate movement.

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Is the blue coloration sometimes observed in icebergs primarily caused by the reflection of the sky?

Answer: False

Explanation: The blue color in icebergs results from the absorption and scattering of light within the ice itself, particularly due to the absence of air bubbles, rather than sky reflection.

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Are melting and calving the two primary processes by which icebergs lose mass?

Answer: True

Explanation: Icebergs diminish in size primarily through melting, driven by oceanic heat and solar radiation, and through calving, the process of breaking off smaller pieces.

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Is the constant K in the ocean-driven melting formula (Mb = K * Δu^0.8 * (T0 - T) / L^0.2) approximately 0.75 °C⁻¹ m⁰·⁴ day⁻¹ s⁰·⁸?

Answer: True

Explanation: The provided formula for ocean-driven melting includes a constant K, which is stated to be approximately 0.75 °C⁻¹ m⁰·⁴ day⁻¹ s⁰·⁸ for use in polar ocean environments.

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Is wave erosion of icebergs estimated using formulas that consider factors like sea state and sea ice concentration?

Answer: True

Explanation: Formulas for estimating wave erosion of icebergs incorporate variables such as sea state (wave conditions) and sea ice concentration, alongside other factors.

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What effect does the freshwater released from melting icebergs have on the surrounding seawater density?

Answer: It decreases the density, causing the water to rise.

Explanation: The introduction of freshwater from melting icebergs dilutes the seawater, reducing its density and causing the surface layer to become less dense and potentially rise.

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The phenomenon known as "Bergie Seltzer" is caused by:

Answer: The bursting of compressed air bubbles trapped within the ice.

Explanation: 'Bergie Seltzer' refers to the audible fizzing or popping sound produced when compressed air bubbles, trapped within the ice structure of an iceberg, are released as the ice melts.

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What can cause an iceberg to become unstable and flip over?

Answer: Changes in its center of gravity due to melting or breaking

Explanation: As an iceberg melts unevenly or breaks apart, its center of gravity can shift, potentially leading to instability and causing it to capsize.

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How are "glacial earthquakes" generated according to the text?

Answer: By large icebergs flipping onto the glacier face after calving.

Explanation: Glacial earthquakes are seismic events produced when large icebergs calve and subsequently flip onto the glacier front, exerting significant force.

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What factors contribute to the varied colors (blue, green, black) sometimes seen in icebergs?

Answer: Seawater, algae, sediment, and the presence or absence of air bubbles.

Explanation: The coloration of icebergs, beyond white, can be attributed to inclusions such as seawater, algae, sediment, and variations in air bubble content, which affect light absorption and scattering.

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Monitoring, Safety, and Tracking

Did the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912 lead to the establishment of iceberg tracking systems?

Answer: True

Explanation: The catastrophic loss of life during the RMS Titanic's sinking directly prompted international efforts to establish systems for monitoring iceberg dangers in shipping lanes.

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Does the International Ice Patrol (IIP) primarily focus on monitoring iceberg dangers near the coast of Alaska?

Answer: False

Explanation: The International Ice Patrol's primary operational area is the North Atlantic, specifically monitoring iceberg dangers near the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, not the coast of Alaska.

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Was radar technology first tested for iceberg detection in the late 1970s?

Answer: False

Explanation: Experiments testing the effectiveness of radar for iceberg detection were conducted much earlier, in 1945, predating the late 1970s.

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Does the National Ice Center (NIC) track iceberg concentrations and size distributions globally?

Answer: True

Explanation: The U.S. National Ice Center (NIC), established in 1995, is responsible for monitoring and forecasting ice conditions, including iceberg concentrations and size distributions, worldwide.

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What historical maritime disaster directly led to the establishment of the International Ice Patrol?

Answer: The sinking of the RMS Titanic

Explanation: The catastrophic sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912, due to collision with an iceberg, was the direct catalyst for the creation of the International Ice Patrol to enhance maritime safety.

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What is the primary geographical area of focus for the International Ice Patrol (IIP)?

Answer: The Grand Banks of Newfoundland

Explanation: The International Ice Patrol's primary mission involves monitoring iceberg dangers in the North Atlantic, with a specific focus on the region of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland.

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Which technology, launched in 1995, utilizes microwave energy for tracking icebergs?

Answer: RADARSAT-1

Explanation: RADARSAT-1, launched by Canada in 1995, was the first system to employ synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, using microwave energy to detect and track icebergs.

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Which of the following is NOT listed as a primary force considered in modeling an iceberg's trajectory?

Answer: Gravitational pull from the moon

Explanation: The forces typically considered in iceberg trajectory modeling include air drag, water drag, wave radiation force, sea ice drag, and the horizontal pressure gradient force. Lunar gravitational pull is not mentioned as a primary factor.

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What is the purpose of iceberg management plans in regions like Labrador and Newfoundland?

Answer: To protect offshore installations from iceberg impacts.

Explanation: Iceberg management plans in regions such as Labrador and Newfoundland are primarily developed to safeguard offshore industrial infrastructure, like oil and gas platforms, from potential collisions with icebergs.

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Ecological, Environmental, and Cultural Significance

Was Iceberg B-15, measured in 2000, the largest iceberg ever recorded in history?

Answer: False

Explanation: While Iceberg B-15 was exceptionally large, the largest recorded iceberg was sighted in 1956, measuring 335 by 97 kilometers, significantly larger than B-15.

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Has the towing of icebergs for freshwater resources been proposed as a commercial application since the mid-20th century?

Answer: True

Explanation: The concept of harvesting icebergs for their freshwater content, by towing them to arid regions, has been a subject of discussion and proposals since at least the 1950s.

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Can icebergs stimulate phytoplankton growth by releasing essential nutrients, such as iron, into the ocean?

Answer: True

Explanation: Icebergs, particularly those containing sediments, can release trace elements like iron into the ocean, acting as a catalyst for phytoplankton blooms and influencing marine productivity.

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Is Ernest Hemingway associated with the "iceberg theory" in writing, which emphasizes explicit detail?

Answer: False

Explanation: Ernest Hemingway's "iceberg theory" emphasizes omission and implication, where much of the meaning is submerged and unstated, rather than explicit detail.

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Does Sigmund Freud's "iceberg model" illustrate the structure of the human psyche, with the conscious mind being the largest part?

Answer: False

Explanation: In Freud's model, the conscious mind represents only the visible tip of the iceberg, while the vast unconscious mind constitutes the submerged, larger portion.

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Was the largest recorded iceberg, sighted in 1956, larger than the country of Belgium?

Answer: True

Explanation: The Antarctic iceberg sighted in 1956, measuring 335 by 97 kilometers, was indeed larger than the nation of Belgium.

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Can icebergs function as breakwaters, thereby influencing ocean wave patterns?

Answer: True

Explanation: Icebergs can indeed act as natural breakwaters, altering the propagation and intensity of ocean waves that interact with them.

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What was the name of the largest iceberg recorded in recent history, measured in 2000?

Answer: B-15

Explanation: Iceberg B-15, which calved from the Ross Ice Shelf in 2000, was measured at nearly 300 by 40 kilometers, making it the largest iceberg recorded in recent history.

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What potential commercial application for icebergs has been considered since the 1950s?

Answer: Towing them as a source of freshwater.

Explanation: Since the mid-20th century, proposals have been made to tow large icebergs to regions requiring freshwater, utilizing them as a natural reservoir.

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What role can icebergs play in marine ecosystems concerning phytoplankton?

Answer: They release nutrients like iron, stimulating phytoplankton blooms.

Explanation: Icebergs can release essential nutrients, particularly iron contained within sediments, which stimulates the growth of phytoplankton and can lead to significant blooms in nutrient-poor ocean regions.

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The "iceberg theory" in writing, associated with Ernest Hemingway, emphasizes:

Answer: Omitting much of the meaning, leaving it implied.

Explanation: Hemingway's 'iceberg theory' advocates for omission, where the narrative presents only the essential surface elements, allowing the deeper meaning and emotional resonance to be implied for the reader.

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In Sigmund Freud's model of the psyche, what does the "iceberg" metaphor represent?

Answer: The conscious mind is the visible tip, and the unconscious mind is the vast hidden part.

Explanation: Freud's iceberg model posits that the conscious mind is merely the visible tip, while the much larger, submerged portion represents the unconscious mind, containing repressed thoughts and desires.

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What is "seabed gouging" in the context of icebergs?

Answer: The disturbance caused when an iceberg's submerged part contacts the seabed in shallow waters.

Explanation: Seabed gouging refers to the physical impact and disturbance created on the seabed when the submerged portion of an iceberg drifts into shallow coastal waters.

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What is the significance of the 2010 calving event from the Petermann Glacier in northern Greenland?

Answer: It was the largest Arctic iceberg recorded since 1962.

Explanation: The iceberg that calved from the Petermann Glacier in 2010 was notable for being the largest Arctic iceberg recorded since 1962, measuring approximately 260 km².

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What is the "iceberg theory" in writing, as associated with Ernest Hemingway?

Answer: A principle of omission where much of the story's meaning is implied rather than stated.

Explanation: The 'iceberg theory' in writing, attributed to Hemingway, emphasizes omission, suggesting that the majority of a story's meaning should be implied rather than explicitly stated, much like the hidden mass of an iceberg.

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Antarctic Iceberg Naming Conventions

Are Antarctic icebergs named using a system where the letter indicates the iceberg's origin longitude, with 'A' representing the easternmost sector?

Answer: False

Explanation: In the Antarctic naming system, the letter denotes the quadrant of origin longitude (A for 0-90°W, B for 90-180°W, C for 90-180°E, D for 0-90°E), not necessarily the easternmost sector for 'A'.

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Does the U.S. National Ice Center assign names to Antarctic icebergs based on their size and the month they were first observed?

Answer: False

Explanation: The NIC names Antarctic icebergs using a system based on their origin quadrant (indicated by a letter) and a sequential number, not primarily on size or observation month.

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How does the U.S. National Ice Center (NIC) name Antarctic icebergs?

Answer: By a letter indicating origin longitude and a sequential number.

Explanation: The NIC assigns names to Antarctic icebergs consisting of a letter signifying the origin quadrant and a sequential number, applied to icebergs exceeding a certain size threshold.

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