Glacier
Persistent body of ice that is moving downhill under its own weight
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A glacier is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving downhill under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. It acquires distinguishing features, such as crevasses and seracs, as it slowly flows and deforms under stresses induced by its weight. As it moves, it abrades rock and debris from its substrate to create landforms such as cirques, moraines, or fjords. Although a glacier may flow into a body of water, it forms only on land and is distinct from the much thinner sea ice and lake ice that form on the surface of bodies of water.
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Stunning pictures show inside otherworldly ice caves appearing in the Austrian AlpsGlaciers will melt at a fast rate and eventually vanish completely if climate change is not halted, scientists have warned.Sky News - Published |
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