EAS100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Permafrost, Atmospheric Circulation, Frazil Ice

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Course: EAS100
• Professor: Korhan Ayranci

Document Summary

Snow line : the boundary marking the lowest altitude at which a given area is always. Annual snow line : marks boundary of areas that have snow year-round. Above the snow line, there are areas where snow accumulates to form ice. Glaciers : ice masses that flow under the influence of gravity. Form from snow that has accumulated and been compacted until it is so dense that it is impenetrable to air. Ice grains recrystallize at depth within the glacier, reaching 1 cm near the base. Smallest, occupies a protected, bowl-shaped depression on a mountainside produced by glacial erosion. Follow the path of ancient river valleys. Downward erosive action of the ice carves. Ice caps the valley into a broad u shape, in contrast to the steeper v shape that is produced during early river erosion. Cover mountain highlands or low-lying land at high altitudes and generally flow radially outward from their centre. Steep walls of rock on either side.