Glaciers are large and slow moving masses of ice that form in region where snow accumulation exceed snowmelt. They are fascinating natural feature.
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| Glacier Facts |
Here are some interesting facts about glaciers:
1. Ice Age Remnant:- Many glaciers we see today are remnant from last Ice Age, which ended around 11,700 years ago. During Ice Age glaciers covered a much larger portion of Earth's surface.
2. Freshwater Reservoirs:- Glacier store a significant portion of the world's freshwater, making them crucial for sustaining freshwater ecosystem and providing drinking water to community.
3. Slow Movement:- Glaciers are move but they do so very slowly. The fastest glaciers may only move a few feet or meter per day, while other may move just a few inche per year.
4. Glacier Ice Is Blue:- The dense ice in glacier absorb all color of the spectrum except blue, which is why glacier ice often appears blue. The deeper ice, bluer it appear.
5. Glacial Erosion:- Glaciers are powerful agents of erosion. As they move, they can carve out valley, fjords and cirques in landscape, shaping the terrain over long period.
6. Glacial Calving:- Glaciers often terminate in bodies of water, where they can lose ice through a process called calving. This is when chunks of ice break off from glacier, creating iceberg.
7. Glacial Retreat:- Many glaciers worldwide are experiencing retreat due to global warming. This means they are shrinking and losing more ice each year than they gain through snowfall.
8. Ice Caves:- Glaciers can create stunning ice caves and tunnel inside their masses. These formations are shaped by melting and refreezing process.
9. Glacial Flour:- As glaciers grind against rocks, they produce fine rock particles known as glacial flour. When carried by glacial meltwater this flour can give lakes and river a milky turquoise color.
10. Glacial Landform:- Glaciers create various landform, including morain, drumlin and kettle.
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| Glacier Facts |
11. Antarctica's Gigantic Ice Sheet:- Antarctica contains the largest ice sheet on Earth with an estimated 90% of the world's freshwater ice. If it were to melt completely, sea level would rise significantly.
12. Ice Age Fossil:- Glaciers have preserved ancient fossils including the remains of woolly mammoths and other prehistoric animals. These fossils provide valuable insights into Earth's history.
13. Glaciers and Sea Level:- Glaciers contribute to sea level changes. When glaciers melt or calve into the ocean, they add freshwater which can cause sea level to rise.
14. Glaciers in Unexpected Place:- While most glaciers are found in polar region and high mountain range there are glaciers in some surprising location, such as Andes Mountains in South America and Himalayas in Asia.
15. Glacial Expedition:- Glacier exploration and mountaineering have been popular activities for adventure seeker. Some famous glaciers like Aletsch Glacier in Switzerland are accessible to tourist.
Glaciers are not only geologically significant but also important indicators of climate change. Monitoring their health and behavior is crucial for understanding and mitigating the effects of global warming.
