Final answer:
The polarization of ice caps mainly refers to the permanent ice formations on Mars's poles that differ in composition and size between the northern and southern regions, with the Earth's Greenland ice sheet being substantially larger.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phenomenon referred to as the polarization of ice caps pertains to the distinct nature of Mars's polar ice caps, with the northern cap being larger, primarily composed of water ice, and having a minimum diameter of 1000 kilometers. The northern cap is unlike the southern cap, which is smaller at 350 kilometers in diameter and consists of frozen CO₂ with a substantial amount of water ice. Interestingly, these Martian ice caps differ from the seasonal CO₂ caps that form during the cold winters and are not retained due to the warmer summer temperatures in the north.
Moreover, the Earth's polar ice caps, such as those on Greenland, showcase changes in ice extent that have been monitored over years. The Greenland ice sheet, in particular, has approximately 2.85 times more ice than Mars's polar ice caps.