Icebergs are masses of ice larger than five meters that detach from a glacier and float out into a lake or the ocean. Icebergs more than 80 kilometers long have broken away from Antarctic shelves. Smaller chunks of ice from glaciers are called bergy bits (less than five meters) and growlers (less than two meters). Icebergs typically come in two shapes: tabular, with steep sides and a flat top, and non-tabular, which come in a variety of shapes with domes and spires.

Scientists and decision-makers use NASA data to track and study icebergs because they are common components of cryospheric and marine ecosystems, they contribute to weather and climate, are an indicator of climate change, and can be a hazard to maritime safety.