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UNIT. The evolution of landforms. 11. TYPES OF GLACIERS. Biology and Geology 4. Secondary Education. UNIT. Types of glaciers. 11. What is a glacier?.

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  1. UNIT The evolution of landforms 11 TYPES OF GLACIERS Biology and Geology 4. Secondary Education

  2. UNIT Types of glaciers 11 What is a glacier? • Glaciers are enormous masses of ice which are formed by accumulation, compaction and re-crystallisation of the snow deposited in very cold regions (and mostly remote regions) on the Earth's surface. • There are two main types of glaciers: Alpine or valley glaciers Polar cap glaciers Click on each type of glacier to learn more Biology and Geology 4. Secondary Education

  3. UNIT Types of glaciers 11 Alpine or valley glaciers • These are found in high mountains and they normally flow down valleys that were previously occupied by water currents, which is why they are called alpine or valley glaciers. • There are thousands of glaciers of this kind around the world. They are small compared to polar glaciers. Biology and Geology 4. Secondary Education

  4. UNIT Types of glaciers 11 Alpine or valley glaciers • These are found in high mountains and they normally flow down valleys that were previously occupied by water currents, which is why they are called alpine or valley glaciers. • There are thousands of glaciers of this kind around the world. They are small compared to polar glaciers. • They can be short or can have tongues which are hundreds of kilometres in length, which sometimes divide into a number of tongues. • They advance down the valleys very slowly (they only move a few centimetres a day) and following their action on the surface, the characteristic U-shaped valleys are created. Biology and Geology 4. Secondary Education

  5. UNIT Types of glaciers 11 Polar cap glaciers • They are large accumulations of ice which cover enormous areas compared to Alpine glaciers and, in fact, account for 10% of the Earth’s surface. • They are located in the polar regions, which are very favourable areas for the accumulation of ice due to the low level of solar radiation they receive. Biology and Geology 4. Secondary Education

  6. UNIT Types of glaciers 11 Polar cap glaciers • They are large accumulations of ice which cover enormous areas compared to Alpine glaciers and, in fact, account for 10% of the Earth’s surface. • They are located in the polar regions, which are very favourable areas for the accumulation of ice due to the low level of solar radiation they receive. • They flow in all directions from the different areas of accumulation, concealing the entire surface. When they reach the bays on the coast, they form large, flat masses of floating ice called ice shelves. Ice shelf Biology and Geology 4. Secondary Education

  7. UNIT Types of glaciers 11 Polar cap glaciers • At thepresent time, there are onlytwoglaciers of thistype: • At the North Pole: in Greenland, itcovers 1.7 million Km2 with a thickness of between 1,500 and 3,000 metres. • At the South Pole: Antarcticacovers 13.9 million Km2 with a maximumthickness of 4,500 metres. Biology and Geology 4. Secondary Education

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