GPHY 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 27: Moraine, Regolith, Deglaciation
GPHY 102 verified notes
27/28View all
Document Summary
Gphy 102 lecture 27: glaciers and glacial processes. From when snowfall exceeds melt over successive years (accumulation exceeds ablation) Snow compacts and compresses into ice with a density of ~850 kg/m3 (compare to snow at 50- 300 kg/m3: thick layers of ice behave in a plastic fashion, and movement/flow occurs when significant mass accumulates (i. e. glaciers!!) Glacier types: pattern of glacier movement varies depending on quantity of ice and terrain environment, variations best understood by considering two basic types of glaciers, mountain/alpine glaciers, continental ice sheets. Icefield is a term used for ice occupying large expanses of mountain terrain: valley glaciers flow out of icefields. Smaller glaciers may for in cirques, referred to as cirque glaciers. Glacier flow: movement occurs in response to gravity but also forces generated by mass of ice, tends to be highest near equilibrium line. In zone of accumulation, ice is colder and more rigid.
