Antarctica and Greenland account for most of the world's glacial ice. Glaciers form when snow remains in one location long enough to transform into ice, and most glaciers are found either in mountainous areas or the polar regions.
Approximate area covered by glaciers worldwide, by region
(in square kilometers)
Characteristic
Area covered in square kilometers
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According to the source, these figures include some double-counting of glaciers in cases where multiple outlines exist for the same glacier but don't share the same glacier ID. The result is that the totals for glacier area are too high for the current state of glaciers.
The source did not provide a release date. The date given is the date of website access.
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National Snow and Ice Data Center. (September 6, 2023). Approximate area covered by glaciers worldwide, by region (in square kilometers) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/571207/glacial-coverage-area-globally-by-region/
National Snow and Ice Data Center. "Approximate area covered by glaciers worldwide, by region (in square kilometers)." Chart. September 6, 2023. Statista. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/571207/glacial-coverage-area-globally-by-region/
National Snow and Ice Data Center. (2023). Approximate area covered by glaciers worldwide, by region (in square kilometers). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/571207/glacial-coverage-area-globally-by-region/
National Snow and Ice Data Center. "Approximate Area Covered by Glaciers Worldwide, by Region (in Square Kilometers)." Statista, Statista Inc., 6 Sep 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/571207/glacial-coverage-area-globally-by-region/
National Snow and Ice Data Center, Approximate area covered by glaciers worldwide, by region (in square kilometers) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/571207/glacial-coverage-area-globally-by-region/ (last visited July 22, 2024)
Approximate area covered by glaciers worldwide, by region (in square kilometers) [Graph], National Snow and Ice Data Center, September 6, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/571207/glacial-coverage-area-globally-by-region/