GGR201H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Glacier Mass Balance, Glacier Morphology, Ablation Zone
11 Jan 2017
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Drop moraines: sediment dropped out at end/ edges of glacier (indicates locations where the end/edge of the glacier was stationary for a long time) Alpine glaciers: topographically confined, erosional: amphitheatre shaped valley formed by ice flow from mountains on 3 sides (end of valley) - meltwater in a cirque can form a tarn. Piedmont glaciers: fan or lobed valley glacier which spreads as it becomes unconfined exiting a valley. Tidewater glaciers: glacial terminus over sea or lake water (calving) - glaciomarine or glaciolacustrine deposition. Medial moraines created by two lateral moraines coming together. Glaciofluvial systems tend to be braided channels (high slope, q is variable) Turbid overflow: turbid meltwater entering ocean tends to create a layer of sediment rich water near the surface (does not mix well with ocean water - different densities). Continental glaciers (ice sheets) - dome-shaped glacier, large enough to not be confined by topography. Ice cap - smaller dome shaped ice sheet (<50,000 km2)
