ice floe
{{Short description|Large pack of floating ice}}
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{{Distinguish|Glacier#Motion{{!}}Ice flow}}
An ice floe ({{IPAc-en|f|l|oʊ}}) is a segment of floating ice defined as a flat piece at least {{convert|20|metres|feet}} across at its widest point, and up to more than {{convert|10|km|miles}} across.{{cite book |last1=Zhang |first1=Qin |last2=Skjetne |first2=Roger |title=Sea Ice Image Processing with MATLAB® |date=2018 |publisher=CRC Press |location=Boca Raton, Fla. |isbn=978-1-138-03266-8 |page=43 |language=en}} Drift ice is a floating field of sea ice composed of several ice floes. They may cause ice jams on freshwater rivers, and in the open ocean may damage the hulls of ships.
Gallery
File:Drift ice in Hudson Strait, 2014.jpg|Several ice floes in the Hudson Strait
File:IceNomenclature-2LightPack.jpg|Ice floes in the Weddell Sea
File:In the Arctic Sea - An Ice Floe Adrift (NBY 439626).jpg|"In the Arctic Sea – An Ice Floe Adrift". Postcard, Albert Operti, early 20th century