How can an iceberg float in the ocean without melting?

Question

When you place ice in water, it melts!

So clearly the pictures of icebergs we saw on the TV are frauds!

Icebergs are a hoax!

Answer 1

They are melting. But it's at a slow rate. Take 2 ice cubes. Put one in the refrigerator, and the other in the stove. Which one melts first.

Answer 2

Icebergs are made of freshwater and are generally found in waters that are below 32°F. Since salt decreases the freezing point of water, seawater stays liquid well below the freezing point of freshwater.

Answer 3

Indeed, icebergs melt in water and eventually disappear totally. But they are such massive items that it takes months or even a year or more to melt. You cannot really compare that notion with how a few ice cubes from the refrigerator melt in a glass of water.



Apparently the iceberg which sunk the Titanic was in the last few weeks of its existence - but still massive.

Answer 4

They do melt. Slowly. The water is pretty freaking cold where they are found. Cold enough to kill you in a couple minutes cold. Take your breath away cold. Colder than the fridge part of a refrigerator cold. C O L D cold.

Answer 5

They do melt. As soon as an Iceberg is formed it starts melting.

Answer 6

Please do not feed the troll.

Answer 7

"Icebergs are a hoax"! Tell that to the folks who watch the icebergs come down Iceberg Alley. The water around both poles is already cold so when the glacier calves the iceberg melts extremely slowly. Now let us exclude the effects of the sun on the berg. When wave and water movement move the berg into warmer waters the warmer water begins to melt the underwater part of the berg at a faster rate. The berg becomes top heavy and rolls over forming what is known as a "growler". Since a growler is smaller than the original size melting takes place at a faster rate, another growler is formed and the process repeats itself until the iceberg is completely gone. If you look at photos of the east coast of Newfoundland you can see icebergs stuck in some of the inlets and only time and water action completely melt the berg. The iceberg brings its own cold temperature with it. Until the berg reaches warmer water the melting takes place at such a slow rate that it is imperceptible to the human eye. Only time lapse photography shows the melting.

Answer 8

An iceberg that has drifted equatorward melts very slowly. Meanwhile, new icebergs appear, breaking off from the polar ice sheets or from Greenland's glaciers. Of course, new ice is "made" each year in wintertime -- i.e., the polar ice sheets grow.

Answer 9

yes dear. Have you ever noticed that ice in very cold water takes a long time to melt, and the bigger the ice cube the longer it lasts...?

Answer 10

No fraud involved. The water around the iceberg is cold. (Plus/Minus 4 degrees C) On top of that:90% of the iceberg is underwater and it is so big that it takes months to even show melting. As it melts, it turns over so that you see a new perspective of the same iceberg. Do some research and watch some movies of icebergs.

Peace.

Answer 11

What about the Titanic, didn't you see that movie.

Remember when the ice was on the deck?

That my kind and ignorant friend, was an iceberg.

Answer 12

The ice cube is in a glass in a 70° F room.