Glaciers cover approximately 10% of Earth's land surface. This percentage is quite significant, but it's far less than 70%.
Here's why that number is important:
* Climate change: Glaciers are extremely sensitive to changes in temperature, and their shrinking size is a key indicator of global warming.
* Water resources: Glaciers hold a large portion of the world's freshwater, and their melting contributes to rising sea levels and impacts water availability in many regions.
* Ecosystems: Glaciers shape landscapes and provide habitat for unique ecosystems. Their retreat can have significant ecological consequences.
