Glaciation
Physical Geology
Glaciated area on the Grand Teton
You may wish to print a copy of the lecture outline (minus the illustrations) and you have two options:
- Microsoft Word if you use that Word Processor or
- A Netscape Document that you can print (use the Left Arrow key to return to this page).
- Or, you may view the Glaciers power point presentation shown in class.
Chapter Objectives
After reading Chapter Twelve, you should be able to:
- Define the term glacier, and explain the difference between valley and
alpine glaciers.
- Explain how a glacier moves.
- Describe the features and landforms caused by glacial erosion.
- Describe the landforms created by glacial deposits.
- Explain what an ice age is.
- Identify some of the indirect effects of glaciers, and list some of the
possible causes of glaciation.
Introduction
A glacier is a mass of ice composed of compacted and recrystallized snow which flows under its own weight on land. As noted previously, about 2% of the Earth's water is contained in glaciers. Of the nearly 15,000,000 square km of ice covered regions, about 14,500,000 square km are in Antarctica (12,600,000) and Greenland (1,800,000). Although 2% sounds like a small amount, if the nearly 25 million cubic miles of ice were to melt, the world's oceans would rise some 60 meters or nearly 200 feet. What is the elevation where you live? How far inland would you have to drive in Texas to reach 200 feet above sea level?
Internet Resources
- Glacier -- "What causes ice sheets to expand and contract? Are the present ice sheets growing or shrinking? How will
global warming impact the ice sheets? How do the ice sheets impact the global system? Glacial geologists study
the present glacial environment to understand "ice ages" of the past. Come and explore the ever-changing nature
of the glacial setting; the ice, the changes it creates in the landscape, and its response to changes in the
environment!".
- Measure A Moving Glacier
"An Alaskan glacier is under study from a unique vantage point: space. A series of satellites that estimate precise positions
on Earth from space, the Global Positioning System, are helping scientists study the the movement of ice and Earth at the
surging Bering Glacier. "
- Understanding Glaciers of Glacier Bay, Alaska
"Alaska's Glacier Bay has fascinated naturalists and glaciologists for centuries. Named a National Monument in 1925 and a National Park in 1980, Glacier Bay today attracts more than 250,000 visitors a year. Just 200 years ago, the entire Bay was covered by glacier ice. With the help of ground and satellite measurements, study of the recession of the glaciers of Glacier Bay, as well as in other areas, is providing us with important clues about changes in global climate."
A Virtual Field Trip to Antarctica
Virtual Antarctica --"
December 10, 1995, TerraQuest's maiden voyage commenced as
the expedition ship Livonia set out from Ushuaia, Argentina. Over the next two
weeks, online adventurers from around the world followed the guests and crew as they
sailed across Drake's Passage to the continent of Antarctica. With twice-daily live chats
and digital dispatches linked via Inmarsat satellite systems, TerraQuest made history by
becoming the first commercial travel expedition to make live uplinks to the Internet from
Antarctica."
Self-Quizes
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Copyright by John C. Butler, July 29, 1995