The phrase is a widely recognized idiom used to describe a small, visible part of a much larger, more complex, and often hidden reality. Scientifically, this refers to the fact that approximately 90% of an iceberg's mass remains submerged.
In System Dynamics (SD) and organizational theory, the "Iceberg Model" is used to diagnose complex problems. The Tip of the IcebergSD
Because ice is less dense than the salt water it displaces, it floats with only about one-tenth of its volume above the surface. The phrase is a widely recognized idiom used