Stripes form on some Antarctic icebergs due to layers of snow reacting differently to conditions, with blue stripes created when meltwater freezes in crevices without air bubbles and green stripes formed when algae-rich seawater freezes to the underside. Brown, black and yellow lines are caused by sediment incorporated as the ice sheet moves toward the sea.

1. Amazing STRIPED ICEBERGS

2. Icebergs in the Antarctic area sometimes have stripes, formed by layers of snow that react to different conditions. Blue stripes are often created when a crevice in the ice sheet fills up with melt water and freezes so quickly that no bubbles form. When an iceberg falls into the sea, a layer of salty seawater can freeze to the underside. If this is rich in algae, it can form a green stripe. Brown, black and yellow lines are caused by sediment, picked up when the ice sheet grinds downhill towards the sea.