“Glacier calving, also known as ice calving, or iceberg calving, is the breaking of ice chunks from the edge of a glacier. The sudden release and breaking away of a mass of ice from a glacier or iceberg often causes large waves around the area and can result in a “shooter” which is a large chunk of the submerged portion of the iceberg surfacing above the water. The ice that breaks away can be classified as an iceberg, but may also be a growler, bergy bit, or a crevasse wall breakaway. The entry of the ice into the water causes large, and often hazardous waves. These events have become major tourist attractions –a beautiful landscape, cracking sounds, large icebergs and sometimes even tsunami-like waves create overall stunning spectacles for all visitors.”

“Some giant icebergs the size of houses break off at the base of the ice cliff, over 200 metres underwater. They’re called ‘shooters’ because they shoot up from the depths at the face of the glacial terminus. They become part of the berg ice that is scattered across fjords and bays. Their ice crystals have been imprisoned under millions of tons of ice for thousands of years. They’re so compressed they refract light in such a way that the ice appears a bright sapphire blue.”

Some further ideas to explore on Glacier Calving and Ice Shooters

Are there means of calculating how much fresh water is released from an Ice shooter into the sea?

What are the effects of freshwater released by ice shooters on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC).

Are there any differences in the nature of the water released by an ice shooter in comparison to water released by calving?

Sources:

“Extraordinary icebergs known as ‘Shooters’,” Ocean Planet Images bit.ly/3YH8j8x

“The ice-ocean boundary is one of Earth’s most challenging places to explore,” ICE, www.exploreice.org

Columbia glacier ice calving releasing a rare 200 foot tall ice shooter. bit.ly/3NMJhyI  See images of shooters.

Licet Studios, “GIANT Iceberg ‘Shooter’ Triggered By Glacier Calving,” www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2MtSjsVHE8  See images of ice shooters