What Is “Bergy Seltzer”?

You may be familiar with Alka-Seltzer's iconic jingle, “Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh, what a relief it is,” which refers to the fizzing and bubbling that occurs when the tablet is placed in water and releases carbon dioxide-filled bubbles.

“Bergy seltzer,” on the other hand, is a term you're less likely to have come across. Although the phrase sounds like it should belong to a rock band or beach bar, "bergy seltzer," also known as ice sizzle, is defined as the sound of air bubbles breaking away from melting glaciers and icebergs, a crackling or sizzling sound similar to that made by soft drinks or seltzer water.

Air bubbles in glaciers form when pockets of air are trapped by snow crystals and gradually become increasingly compacted under the weight of the snow. When the snow turns into ice, the air bubbles, distributed evenly throughout the ice, become pressurized. When the pressure becomes too much, these air bubbles break away, causing the crackling and popping sound known as bergy seltzer.

With the ever-increasing threat of climate change, researchers can study ice sizzle to monitor fast-changing polar environments. Scientists can also set up devices to record how glaciers and icebergs melt in response to seasonal changes, weather events, and long-term climate trends.

Bergy bits and growlers: