Ice, Snow, and Glaciers and the Water Cycle

Ice and glaciers are part of the water cycle, even though the water in them moves very slowly. Ice caps influence the weather, too. The color white reflects sunlight (heat) more than darker colors, and as ice is so white, sunlight is reflected back out to the sky, which helps to create weather patterns. Read on to learn how glaciers and ice caps are part of the water cycle. Note: This section of the Water Science School discusses the Earth's "natural" water cycle without human interference.