Question map
The main area of production of icebergs is found in—
Explanation
The main area of production for icebergs in the Northern Hemisphere is the West Coast of Greenland. Icebergs are formed through a process called calving, where chunks of ice break off from glaciers or ice sheets that reach the sea [2]. In Greenland, calf ice production is heavily concentrated in a few large outlet glaciers, many of the most important of which are located along the West Greenland coast. For instance, the Ilulissat Icefjord on the west coast is the sea mouth of the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, which alone accounts for approximately 10% of all Greenland's calf ice production [1]. While some sources mention the Jakobshavn glacier on the east coast, the majority of icebergs that eventually reach the North Atlantic shipping lanes and the Newfoundland coast originate from the west coast of Greenland [2]. Other regions like Japan and Africa are not significant iceberg production zones due to their warmer climates.
Sources
- [2] https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/nominations/1149.pdf
- [1] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Landforms of Glaciation > The lce Age and Types of lce Masses > p. 58