Difference between revisions of "Glacier"
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[[Image:Icefields_Parkway.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The Icefields Parkway glacier in Jasper, Canada.]] | [[Image:Icefields_Parkway.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The Icefields Parkway glacier in Jasper, Canada.]] | ||
| − | A '''glacier''' is a large mass of slowly moving [[ice]] formed from snow falling over the years. Though solid, glaciers are able to flow due to the intense pressure of their own weight. They flow in a similar fashion to rivers, although much slower. Glaciers often advance, or grow larger, during the winter months, and recede, or grow smaller, during the summer months. Glaciers are the most powerful force of erosion, able to sculpt entire landscapes and shape [[mountains]]. [[Valleys]] formed by glaciers have a distinctive U shape in cross-section. Glaciers exist in [[Antarctica]], and mountainous areas of [[North America]], [[South America]], [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and [[New Zealand]]. <ref>http://nsidc.org/data/docs/noaa/g01130_glacier_inventory/</ref> | + | A '''glacier''' is a large mass of slowly moving [[ice]] formed from snow falling over the years. Though solid, glaciers are able to flow due to the intense pressure of their own weight. They flow in a similar fashion to rivers, although much slower. Glaciers often advance, or grow larger, during the winter months, and recede, or grow smaller, during the summer months. Glaciers are the most powerful force of erosion, able to sculpt entire landscapes and shape [[mountains]]. [[Valley|Valleys]] formed by glaciers have a distinctive U shape in cross-section. Glaciers exist in [[Antarctica]], and mountainous areas of [[North America]], [[South America]], [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and [[New Zealand]]. <ref>http://nsidc.org/data/docs/noaa/g01130_glacier_inventory/</ref> |
[[category:geography]] | [[category:geography]] | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
Revision as of 03:43, December 15, 2007
A glacier is a large mass of slowly moving ice formed from snow falling over the years. Though solid, glaciers are able to flow due to the intense pressure of their own weight. They flow in a similar fashion to rivers, although much slower. Glaciers often advance, or grow larger, during the winter months, and recede, or grow smaller, during the summer months. Glaciers are the most powerful force of erosion, able to sculpt entire landscapes and shape mountains. Valleys formed by glaciers have a distinctive U shape in cross-section. Glaciers exist in Antarctica, and mountainous areas of North America, South America, Europe, Asia and New Zealand. [1]