Sea ice
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Sea ice forms as seawater freezes. Because ice is less dense than liquid water, it floats on the ocean's surface. Sea ice covers about 7% of the Earth's surface and about 12% of the world's oceans. Mu
Broken pieces of Arctic sea ice with a snow cover
Nilas in Baffin Bay
Aerial view showing an expanse of drift ice offshore Labrador (Eastern Canada) displaying floes of various sizes loosely packed, with open water in several networks of leads. (Scale not available.)
Aerial view showing an expanse of drift ice consisting mostly of water. (Scale not available.)
Sea ice growth processes
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Sea ice is a complex composite composed primarily of pure ice in various states of crystallization, but including air bubbles and pockets of brine. Understanding its growth processes is important for
Nilas Ice formation at sea.