World of Glaciers

Glaciers are large bodies

of ice that form when
snow accumulates and
exceeds its ablation over
many years. A glacier will
deform over time due to
its weight. Glaciers are
formed on land where as
sea ice is formed on
bodies of water. Glaciers
are found in mountain
regions all over the world except Australia. Glacial ice is
largest reservoir of fresh water found on earth and
supports one third of earths population. Glaciers store
water during one season and release melt water, which is
important for plants, animals and human uses.
Glaciers are categorised in many ways including their
morphology, thermal characteristics and their behaviour.
Alpine glaciers form on crests and slopes of mountains
and are also known as mountain glaciers. Valley
glaciers fill small valleys. Large glaciers that cover an
entire mountain or volcano are known as ice caps or ice
fields.
 The largest
glacial bodies
cover more
than
50,000 km
(20,000 mile)
and are several
kilometres
deep. Only
tops protrude
from the
surface.
Volumes of ice are so large that if the Greenland ice sheet
melted it would cause sea levels to rise 20 feet around
the world.

Arct
ic Nor
th
Am
Ant eric
arct a
ic
Ice shelves are thinner and have smaller slopes and
reduced velocities. Ice streams are fast-moving sections
of an ice sheet and can be several hundred kilometres
long.