Explain the flow characteristics of a mountain glacier

What will be an ideal response?


Answer: Mountain valleys confine the flow of ice. The ice and its debris flow in the downhill direction. The flow is slow and plastic. The flow confined in valleys means the primary action is that of erosion. The glacier sometimes slides on meltwater at its base (basal slip). The ice is not strong enough to survive all motion intact so there are many breaks called crevasses. Usually the flow of ice is faster in the center of the valley and slower along the sides.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

You might also like to view...

Cities in the West are situated where water is available, and consequently tend to be spaced far apart

a. True b. False Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

There is/are currently ________ long-term, underground, nonmilitary, permanent, high-level radioactive waste storage facility(ies) in the United States

A) three B) zero C) four D) one

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Dividing the number of rain days in a year by the total number of days in a year would yield the:

a. probability of rainfall. b. rain ratio. c. rain deficit. d. rain distribution.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Most of the fresh water on Earth is found in:

a. glacial ice. b. lakes. c. the atmosphere. d. rivers.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences