EESA06H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 16: Glacier Morphology, Avalanche, Permafrost
Document Summary
Glacier: a large, long-lasing mass of ice, formed on land, that moves downslope under the inluence of gravity. Develops as snow is compacted and recrystallized. Can develop anywhere that, over a period of years, more snow accumulates than melts away or is otherwise lost. 2 types of glaciated terrain on earth"s surface. Alpine glaciaion is found in mountainous regions. Coninental glaciaion exists where a large part of a coninent (thousands of square kilometers) is covered by glacial ice. Originally rejected hypothesis of past extensive coninental glaciaion of europe. Observed characterisic erosional and deposiional features of present glaciers in alps and compared them to similar ones in northern europe and briish isles. Theory of glacial ages: at imes in the past, colder climates prevailed during which much more of the land surface of earth was glaciated than at present. Occur both in polar regions where there is litle meling during summer and regions where there is heavy snowfall during winter.
