Difference between revisions of "Glacier"
(length) |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[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]]. [[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> | 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> | ||
| + | |||
| + | A 2008 study revealed that, due to [[global warming]], glaciers around the world had shrunk an average of 4.9 feet in 2006. The study said that between 1980 and 1999, glaciers lost an average of a foot in length every year, but after 2000 the average loss increased to 20 inches. <ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/weather/03/16/un.climate.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview Glaciers shrinking at record rate]</ref> | ||
| + | |||
[[category:geography]] | [[category:geography]] | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
Revision as of 13:41, March 16, 2008
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]
A 2008 study revealed that, due to global warming, glaciers around the world had shrunk an average of 4.9 feet in 2006. The study said that between 1980 and 1999, glaciers lost an average of a foot in length every year, but after 2000 the average loss increased to 20 inches. [2]