Why do continental glaciers flow?


Glaciers flow by internal plastic deformation when the weight of overlying ice, firn, and snow causes ice crystals at depth to arrange themselves in parallel layers that glide over each other. This deformation happens when a threshold pressure from the overlying mass is exceeded. Pressure is greater under thicker accumulations of ice, so continental glaciers flow radially outward from central areas of thicker ice to marginal areas of thinner ice.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

You might also like to view...

Which of the following gives the name for the force that causes a stationary parcel of air to begin to move horizontally?

A. Coriolis force B. frictional force C. centripetal force D. pressure gradient force

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Within which belt or zone do the majority of earthquakes occur? What will be an ideal response?

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Geography is a discipline primarily concerned with place names

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Advection fog is often observed along the Pacific coast during summer as westerly winds carry moist air toward the shore. Which of the following describes why this fog forms?

A. The surface water near the coast is slightly colder than the surface water farther offshore. B. The surface water near the coast is slightly warmer than the surface water farther offshore. C. The surface water near the coast is much warmer than the surface water farther offshore. D. The surface water near the coast is much colder than the surface water farther offshore.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences