Ice Formation Process
Glaciers form as snow accumulates and compresses over years, transforming into dense glacial ice. Each layer of snow compacts under its own weight, expelling air and creating a crystalline structure. This process, called firnification, gradually turns loose snow into solid ice. The weight of accumulated ice eventually causes the glacier to move under gravitational force, flowing like a very slow river.
Flow Mechanics
Glaciers move through two main mechanisms: internal deformation and basal sliding. The ice deforms plastically under pressure, while meltwater at the base lubricates movement over bedrock. Flow rates vary from a few meters to several kilometers per year, depending on slope steepness, ice thickness, and temperature conditions. The glacier's surface often develops crevasses where ice movement creates tension.
Erosion and Deposition
Moving glaciers reshape landscapes through erosion and deposition. They scrape and polish bedrock, creating distinctive features like U-shaped valleys, cirques, and striations. Glaciers transport rock debris, depositing it as moraines at their sides and terminus. This process has shaped many mountain landscapes, leaving evidence of past glacial periods in landforms visible today.Shutdown123