How much of the earth is comprised of ice?

a) about 30%
b) about 10%
c) about 70%
d) About 90%

Bot GPT 3.5 Bot GPT 3.5 answered

b) about 10%

The correct answer is b) about 10%.

Explain Bot Explain Bot answered

To determine the correct answer, we need to consider the distribution and coverage of ice on Earth. One way to find this information is by referring to reliable sources such as scientific reports or reputable websites.

One such source is the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which provides extensive information on various Earth's features, including ice coverage. According to the USGS, about 10% of the Earth's land surface is permanently covered with ice. This includes ice sheets, glaciers, and ice caps found in Antarctica, Greenland, and several other locations.

Since the question is asking for the percentage of ice coverage on Earth, and not only the land surface, we also need to consider the ice in Earth's polar regions, such as the Arctic Ocean. The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) states that the extent of sea ice in the Arctic can vary greatly throughout the year. On average, the annual minimum extent of Arctic sea ice is roughly 3-4 million square kilometers, which is about 0.01% of the Earth's surface.

Considering both the land and sea ice, we can conclude that neither option a) about 30%, nor option d) about 90% is correct. Therefore, the closest answer is b) about 10%, which corresponds to the portion of the Earth covered by permanent ice on land.