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simple . . it's because the glacier melted . . .
The snow actually forms a glacier through a long process...a metamorphosis of sorts. Snow (which is an ice crystal) falls in an area that stays cold enough year round that snow doesn't totally melt in the summer. There has to be a large accumulation of snow and it must be in a place that isn't prone to avalanches or severe enough wind to blow the snow away. Or (as in the poles, the snow that falls stays because it stays cold enough that the snow doesn't melt all year.)
Over a period of time, new layers of snow pile on top of previous snows, some parts melt so the layers pack more and more tightly. The transformation becomes known as firn. Eventually the firn transforms into a solid bluish mass filled with air bubbles. It can take a few decades or much longer.
What else can I help you with?
What kind of glaciers form when ice and snow build up in a mountain valley?
Valley glaciers form when ice and snow accumulate in a mountain valley due to the accumulation of snow exceeding the rate of melting. Over time, the ice flows downhill, shaping the valley and creating a distinct U-shaped profile.
How are glaciers formed?
Glaciers are formed when snow accumulates over time, compresses into ice, and begins to flow under its own weight. This gradual process of snow compaction and ice formation creates thick masses of ice that move downhill due to gravity. Glaciers are typically found in polar regions, high mountains, and other cold environments where snowfall exceeds melting.
Glaciers can only form when?
Glaciers can only form when snow accumulates over time and compacts into ice. This process requires a cold climate that allows the snow to persist without melting. Additionally, the weight of the ice must exceed the rate at which it melts or sublimates.
What are glaciers like?
Glaciers are large bodies of ice that flow slowly over land, sculpting the landscape as they move. They can be found in polar regions, high mountain ranges, and even some lower latitudes. Glaciers accumulate snow over time, which compacts into ice and causes the glacier to advance downhill.
Why does snow that forms glaciers change to ice?
The snow changes the ice because in order to create the large mass of ice the temperature must freeze the huge clump of snow into a large mass of ice, thus creating the glacier, and so forth the glaciers would then be considered the large mass of ice that was meant to be formed.
Does glaciers come from hydrosphere?
Yes, glaciers form from the hydrosphere through the accumulation and compaction of snow over many years. As snow accumulates, it compresses into ice, eventually forming glaciers.
Can glaciers only develop on the snow line?
No, glaciers can develop below the snow line. While the snow line is the altitude at which snow accumulates and exceeds melting, glaciers can form and persist in areas where snow falls and compacts into ice faster than it melts. Glaciers can exist in both high-altitude and polar regions.
What is a large mass of ice called?
It is called a floe, glacier, or maybe an iceberg.
Why do glaciers form in certain areas?
Glaciers form whereever the snow that falls in a winter isn't able to melt completely during the summer before more snow falls. It eventually compresses into ice and accumulates.
Are ice glaciers in salt water?
Icebergs that break off into the ocean from glaciers do not contain salt, as they are formed by freshwater on land (snow, ice). Icebergs that form in the ocean mostly do not contain salt either. This is because as the seawater freezes, it forms a crystal structure (ice) that prevents salt ions from being included.
What would they eat in the ice age?
snow , glaciers and ice
Are glaciers less dense then fresh snow?
No, glaciers are more dense than fresh snow. Over time, layers of snow accumulate and compress under their own weight to form dense glacial ice. This densification process reduces air pockets within the snow, resulting in the formation of denser ice in glaciers.
