AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Answer and Explanation: Ice floating on water is beneficial to the biosphere because it preserves the life below it. Ice floats on water because it is less dense than water in liquid form. This unique property of water has allowed life to flourish on the planet.

Detailed explanation-2: -Importance of Ice Floating It allows aquatic organisms to survive in cold environments by forming a layer of insulation on the surface of frozen lakes and rivers. This insulation prevents the water beneath from freezing solid, allowing fish and other aquatic animals to survive under the ice.

Detailed explanation-3: -Because ice floats, it creates a layer as it forms that can insulate the water beneath (preventing its heat escaping into space). So floating ice helps to keep the water beneath liquid. Thanks to this, Earth has had liquid water continually for billions of years and has never frozen solid.

Detailed explanation-4: -This floating ice acts as a layer of insulation which prevents the water below it from freezing thereby allowing marine life to flourish.