GlaciersGlaciers

Lauren Kelley Lauren Kelley

What is a glacier?What is a glacier?

• A glacier is a thick ice mass that forms A glacier is a thick ice mass that forms over hundreds of thousands of years.over hundreds of thousands of years.

• They are formed by a combination of They are formed by a combination of ice, water, and rock debris.ice, water, and rock debris.

• Since they are huge chucks of ice they Since they are huge chucks of ice they move slowly across the water.move slowly across the water.

• It’s layers of snow piled on top of layers.It’s layers of snow piled on top of layers.

Some facts about GlaciersSome facts about Glaciers

• Presently, 10% of the Earth's land area is covered Presently, 10% of the Earth's land area is covered with glaciers. with glaciers.

• Glaciers store about 75% of the world's freshwater. Glaciers store about 75% of the world's freshwater. • Glacier ice crystals can grow to be as large as Glacier ice crystals can grow to be as large as

baseballs.baseballs.• Glacial ice often appears blue because ice absorbs Glacial ice often appears blue because ice absorbs

all other colors and reflects blue. all other colors and reflects blue. • Almost 90% of an iceberg is below water--only Almost 90% of an iceberg is below water--only

about 10% shows above water. about 10% shows above water. • The Earth could be considered to actually be in an The Earth could be considered to actually be in an

"interglacial" period. Perhaps one day, our future "interglacial" period. Perhaps one day, our future descendants will have to deal with "The New Ice descendants will have to deal with "The New Ice Age" rather than Global Warming Age" rather than Global Warming

Types of GlaciersTypes of Glaciers

• 2 general types2 general types– Alpine or Mountain glaciers Alpine or Mountain glaciers

•Crique glaciers, Niche glaciers, piedmont Crique glaciers, Niche glaciers, piedmont glaciersglaciers

– Continental glaciersContinental glaciers•the relatively small ice caps, and the the relatively small ice caps, and the

mammoth ice sheets. mammoth ice sheets.

• Also have ice shelf's, ice caps or ice Also have ice shelf's, ice caps or ice sheets, and Icebergsheets, and Iceberg

Ice Age Ice Age

• One happened about One happened about 600 million years ago 600 million years ago

• Second one Second one happened about 275 happened about 275 million years million years

• A third one A third one happened about 1.5 happened about 1.5 million years ago. million years ago. And has ended within And has ended within the past 15,000 the past 15,000 years.years.

During Ice Age, ice covered 32% of the entire land area of the planet.

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The location of Glaciers The location of Glaciers today today

http://www.glacier.rice.edu/land/5_warmice.html

United States GlaciersUnited States Glaciers

• Found in Northwest United States, Found in Northwest United States, Washington and AlaskaWashington and Alaska

• In Alaska there is the Malaspina In Alaska there is the Malaspina Glacier and the Bering Glacier.Glacier and the Bering Glacier.

• The Washington glaciers are said to The Washington glaciers are said to provide 1.7 trillion liters of water provide 1.7 trillion liters of water each summer. each summer.

http://www.uvm.edu/whale//GlaciersWhatAre.html

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