Gravity pulls it twords the earth, and it melting may have something to do with it.
God luck out there. ;)
A glacier is always moving forward (downhill). In the winter, the glacier usually isn't melting and its front edge (or "toe") will advance downhill. In the summer, the toe of the glacier usually melts faster than the glacier is moving forward, causing the front edge of the glacier to recede. If the recession in the summer is greater than the advance in the winter, then the glacier as a whole is receding and will eventually disappear. That is what is currently happening to most of the glaciers in North America and many other places around the world.
The furthest advance of a glacier is marked by its terminal moraine, which is a ridge of debris deposited at the glacier's edge as it flows and melts. This moraine consists of rocks, soil, and sediment that have been pushed along by the glacier's movement. When the glacier retreats, the terminal moraine serves as a clear indicator of its maximum extent. Additionally, the specific point of advance can also be influenced by climatic conditions and the glacier's dynamics.
The moraine that marks the farthest advance of a glacier is called a terminal or end moraine. It forms from the accumulation of debris and sediment that the glacier pushes forward as it advances. Once the glacier retreats, this moraine remains as a distinct ridge or hill, indicating the maximum extent of the glacier's reach.
An extensive pile of till (loose debris & rocks) called an end moraine can build up at the front of the glacier and is typically crescent shaped. Two kinds of end moraines are recognized: terminal and recessional moraines. A terminal moraine is the ridge of till that marks the farthest advance of the glacier before it started to recede. A recessional moraine is one that develops at the front of the receding glacier; a series of recessional moraines mark the path of a retreating glacier.
The accumulation or snowfall rate needs to exceed the ablation which is the snow or ice melting rate in order for a glacier to advance or move forward. ~hope I'm right!
The ridge at the end of a glacier is called a terminal moraine. It forms when debris and sediment that were carried by the glacier accumulate and are deposited at the glacier's snout as it melts and retreats. Terminal moraines can help mark the furthest extent of a glacier's advance.
A glacier may advance or retreat due to changes in climate, specifically variations in temperature and precipitation. When temperatures rise, melting increases, causing the glacier to retreat. Conversely, if temperatures drop or snowfall increases, the glacier can gain mass and advance. Additionally, factors such as changes in ice flow dynamics and geological conditions can also influence glacial movement.
The farthest advance of a glacier is marked by a terminal moraine, which is a ridge of debris deposited at the glacier's leading edge as it moves and melts. This accumulation of rocks, soil, and sediment provides a clear indicator of the glacier's maximum extent. Terminal moraines can vary in size and shape, depending on the glacier's characteristics and the environment in which it exists. They are significant features in glacial landscapes and can help scientists understand past glacial activity.
A terminal moraine marks the farthest advance of a glacier.Locally, we have some terminal moraines of hundreds of thousands of years old, and ranging down to about 18 000 years.
A terminal moraine marks the furthest extent of a glacier's advance. It is a ridge of unsorted glacial debris that accumulates at the terminus of the glacier as it melts and retreats.
A moraine is a low ridge of rocks, sand, and soil that is deposited by a glacier as it advances and retreats. It can be found at the edges or terminus of a glacier, marking the furthest extent of the glacier's advance.
Plucking can still occur even if a glacier is not advancing. Plucking is more influenced by the presence of meltwater and the freezing and thawing of water in crevasses than the overall advance or retreat of the glacier.