Glacial Activity

Glacial activity refers to the processes and landforms created by the movement of glaciers. Glaciers are large masses of ice that flow slowly over land, shaping the landscape through erosion and deposition.

Types of Glaciers

• Alpine glaciers: Form in mountainous areas and flow down valleys.
• Continental glaciers: Cover large areas of land and are responsible for shaping entire landscapes.

Erosional Features

Glaciers erode the land through processes such as plucking and abrasion, creating distinct landforms:

• U-shaped valleys: Glaciers carve out deep, U-shaped valleys as they flow downhill.
• Hanging valleys: Smaller glaciers create valleys that hang above larger, U-shaped valleys.
• Arêtes and horns: Sharp ridges and peaks formed by glacial erosion.

Depositional Features

Glaciers also deposit sediments as they melt, forming various landforms:

• Moraines: Piles of debris left behind by glaciers.
• Drumlins: Elongated hills of glacial till.
• Eskers: Long, winding ridges of sediment deposited by meltwater streams within or beneath glaciers.

Effects on Climate and Sea Levels

Glacial activity has significant impacts on the climate and sea levels. As glaciers melt, they contribute to rising sea levels and can alter local and global climate patterns.

Study Guide

When studying glacial activity, it's important to focus on the following key areas:

1. Types of glaciers and their characteristics
2. Erosional features created by glaciers
3. Depositional features formed by glacial activity
4. Impacts of glacial activity on climate and sea levels

Be sure to familiarize yourself with specific examples of glacial landforms and their formation processes, as well as the broader implications of glacial activity on the environment.