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A glacier is a large, slow-moving mass of ice, formed from compacted layers of snow, that slowly deforms and flows in response to gravity and high pressure. The word glacier comes from French via the Vulgar Latin glacia, and ultimately from Latin glacies meaning ice.[1] Glacier ice is the largest reservoir of fresh water on Earth, and second only to oceans as the largest reservoir of total water. Glaciers cover vast areas of polar regions, are found in mountain ranges of every continent, and are restricted to the highest mountains in the tropics. The processes and landforms caused by glaciers and related to them are referred to as glacial. The process of glacier growth and establishment is called glaciation. Glaciers are sensitive monitors of climate conditions and are crucial to both world water resources and sea level variation. There are two main types of glaciers alpine glaciers, which are found in mountain terrains, and continental glaciers-ice sheets, which can cover larger areas. Most of the concepts in this article apply equally to alpine glaciers and continental glaciers. Glaciers are also categorized by thermal characteristics, climate setting, and behavior. The largest glaciers are Ice sheets, enormous masses of ice that are not visibly affected by the landscape and that cover the entire surface beneath them, except possibly on the margins where they are thinnest. Antarctica and Greenland are the only places where continental ice sheets currently exist. These regions contain vast quantities of fresh water. The volume of ice is so large that if the Greenland ice sheet melted, it would cause sea levels to rise some six meters (20 ft) all around the world. If the Antarctic ice sheet melted, sea levels would rise up to 65 meters (210 ft)[2]. These ice sheets are further divided into sections based on characteristics. Ice shelves are areas of an ice sheet that are at the margin and are afloat. As a result they are thinner, have limited slopes and reduced velocities. Ice streams are fast moving sections of an ice sheet.[3]
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Glacier Articles
How to See the Best of Alaska's Nature, Mountains & Glaciers Close to Anchorage - Prince William Sound
by Robin Irving
Jun 28, 2006
By Robin Irving & Tim Warren
Looking for just one more adventure to round out your Alaska Vacation? Prince William Sound is a great addition to an Alaska vacation package that will likely be the highlight of your Alaska Vacation. Incredib...
Glacier Bread
by Good Riverbed & Breakfast
Jul 13, 2005
Ingredients:
4 large Blue Potatoes
2 c. Water
2 c. Freshly Ground Flour (wheat, barley, oat or rice are good)
1/3 c. Spruce Tip Syrup or other sweetener
1/3 c. Oil
Salt to taste (1 t. is about right for me)
About 4 c. Unbleached White F...
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