Drift ice can range in size from which extremes?

• A. A few square inches to a few square miles
• B. Several square feet to several square yards
• C. Distant ice sheets only
• D. Large floating chunks only

Answer: (A)

Drifting ice is made up of floating pieces called floes that break apart from larger packs. The sizes of these floes vary a lot because winds, waves, and currents continually fragment the ice and transport it. You can encounter tiny fragments just a few inches across and, in other areas, quite large floes that span substantial areas. Describing drift ice as ranging from a few square inches to a few square miles captures this wide spectrum of sizes, which is why it’s the best answer. Smaller-only or larger-only descriptions don’t reflect how drift ice actually presents itself in the ocean.