1, Snowfall,
2, Settling of snow, loose granular consistency as the crystals begin to break up on collapse, and with the weight of overlying snow, plus partial melting.
3, Nivation, annual and diurnal temperature changes lead to thaw-freeze alternation and the conversion of snow into ice crystals.
4, Firn or Neve, increased pressure between individual grains causes pressure melting to eventually change the loose snow into a dull, white structureless mass.
5, Sintering, continued fusion and squeezing out of air as a result of compression by further accumulation.
6, Glacier ice, bluish in colour and containing little air, this may take 40-50 years, depending on the location.
Glacial till is unsorted sediment deposited directly by glacial ice.
The lithosphere responds to the weight of glacial ice by bending and deforming, leading to the depression of the land underneath the ice. This process is known as glacial isostatic adjustment, where the lithosphere sinks under the weight of the ice and rises once the ice melts, slowly returning to its original position over time.
When water or ice rub against rock, a process called abrasion occurs. This process leads to the erosion of the rock surface, resulting in the formation of sediment and small particles. Over time, repeated abrasion can cause the rock to wear down and shape the landscape in a process known as glacial or fluvial erosion.
Post-glacial rebound (sometimes called continental rebound, glacial isostasy, glacial isostatic adjustment) is the rise of land masses that were depressed by the huge weight of ice sheets during the last glacial period, through a process known as isostasy.
Glacial valleys can be straightened through a process called glaciation. As glaciers move down valleys, they can reshape them by eroding and bulldozing material, creating straighter and smoother profiles. This process is known as glacial erosion and can result in the formation of U-shaped valleys.
When glacial ice is heated to 5 degrees Celsius, it undergoes a phase change known as melting, transitioning from a solid state to a liquid state. At this point, the ice starts to melt into water, resulting in the formation of liquid water from the glacial ice.
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The movement of glacial ice is called glaciation or glacial flow. Glaciers move due to the force of gravity and the deformation of the ice under pressure. This movement can result in the formation of features like moraines, crevasses, and glacial valleys.
calving
Glacial till is unsorted sediment deposited directly by glacial ice.
Yes, glacial ice is formed over a long period by the accumulation and compaction of snow, which results in a denser and clearer ice compared to regular ice formed in water bodies. Additionally, glacial ice may contain air bubbles, dust, and other particles trapped during the freezing process, giving it a distinctive appearance.
The glacial scouring by bedrock embedded in ice is erosion by abrasion. This process occurs as the moving ice carries and grinds rocks against the underlying bedrock, wearing it down over time.
The lithosphere responds to the weight of glacial ice by bending and deforming, leading to the depression of the land underneath the ice. This process is known as glacial isostatic adjustment, where the lithosphere sinks under the weight of the ice and rises once the ice melts, slowly returning to its original position over time.
Snow is transformed into glacial ice through a process called firnification, where successive layers of snow are compressed under their weight into firn, a compacted snow with some air pockets. Over time, the firn undergoes further compaction and recrystallization, becoming glacial ice. This process can take several decades to centuries depending on the accumulation rate and temperatures.
Ice cracking is a phenomenon one observes when glacial ice flows into water. The ice flows based on gravity. This is a constant process, and the ice cracking is also, therefore, constant.
Evidence of an ice age includes glacial landforms like moraines and drumlins, sediment layers containing glacial debris, and changes in sea level due to the formation of ice sheets. Additionally, the presence of glacial striations on bedrock and the distribution of erratic boulders are also indicative of past ice ages. Climate proxies like ice core records showing fluctuations in temperature and atmospheric composition further support the occurrence of ice ages.
A glacial budget is the balance between the accumulation (formation of snow and ice) and ablation (loss of ice through melting, sublimation, or calving) of a glacier. It is an essential concept in understanding how glaciers grow, shrink, or remain stable over time. Monitoring changes in the glacial budget helps scientists assess the impacts of climate change on glaciers.