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 as of 2024, 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. (August 6, 2024). Approximate area covered by glaciers worldwide as of 2024, by region (in square kilometers) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 24, 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 as of 2024, by region (in square kilometers)." Chart. August 6, 2024. Statista. Accessed August 24, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/571207/glacial-coverage-area-globally-by-region/
National Snow and Ice Data Center. (2024). Approximate area covered by glaciers worldwide as of 2024, by region (in square kilometers). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 24, 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 as of 2024, by Region (in Square Kilometers)." Statista, Statista Inc., 6 Aug 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 as of 2024, by region (in square kilometers) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/571207/glacial-coverage-area-globally-by-region/ (last visited August 24, 2024)
Approximate area covered by glaciers worldwide as of 2024, by region (in square kilometers) [Graph], National Snow and Ice Data Center, August 6, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/571207/glacial-coverage-area-globally-by-region/