Ice sheets are immense masses of highly viscous glacial ice that cover vast land areas, such as entire continents. These cryospheric components are formed over geological timescales by the accumulation and compaction of snow, leading to the development of ice thick enough to flow under its own weight. The dynamics of an ice sheet are governed by gravity, causing slow but constant flow from higher elevations toward lower ones. The physical characteristics of these sheets—including thickness, flow rate, and temperature—are critical factors in global climate modeling and play a major role in regulating global sea levels and oceanic circulation patterns.