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==Prevalence== | ==Prevalence== | ||
In the Solar System, ice is abundant and occurs naturally from as close to the Sun as Mercury to as far away as the Oort cloud objects. Beyond the Solar System, it occurs as interstellar ice. It is abundant on Earth's surface – particularly in the [[Antarctic Circle|polar regions]] and above the snow line – and, as a common form of precipitation and deposition, plays a key role in Earth's water cycle and climate. It falls as [[Order of the | In the Solar System, ice is abundant and occurs naturally from as close to the Sun as Mercury to as far away as the Oort cloud objects. Beyond the Solar System, it occurs as interstellar ice. It is abundant on Earth's surface – particularly in the [[Antarctic Circle|polar regions]] and above the snow line – and, as a common form of precipitation and deposition, plays a key role in Earth's water cycle and climate. It falls as [[Order of the Snowflake|snowflakes]] and hail or occurs as frost, icicles or ice spikes. | ||
About 98% of [[Antarctica]] is covered by ice, making the continent the largest reservoir of frozen fresh water on the planet. | About 98% of [[Antarctica]] is covered by ice, making the continent the largest reservoir of frozen fresh water on the planet. | ||