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Work of Ice – Our Changing Earth

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The term “lithospheric plates” refers to the division of the lithosphere into a number of plates. The molten lava inside the earth is what is causing the plates to move. The earth’s surface changes as a result of lithospheric plate movement. On the basis of the forces, endogenous forces, and external forces, there are two categories of earth motions. Similar to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, these motions greatly devastate the earth’s surface. 

The term “lithospheric plates” refers to the division of the lithosphere into a number of plates. The molten lava inside the earth is what is causing the plates to move. The earth’s surface changes as a result of lithospheric plate movement. On the basis of the forces, endogenous forces, and external forces, there are two categories of earth motions. Endogenic forces are those that operate in the earth’s interior. Exogenic forces are at play on the earth’s surface. Similar to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, these motions greatly devastate the earth’s surface. A volcano is a hole or vent in the crust of the earth through which suddenly erupts molten material.

Work of Ice

In order to reveal the solid rock beneath the surface of the earth, glaciers erode it by consuming rocks and dirt. Deep hollows are created by glaciers. Beautiful lakes form in the mountains when the ice melts and fills them with water. The glacier deposits the debris it brought, including sand, silt, and pebbles of various sizes. Glacial moraines are created by these deposits.

Landforms created by Ice

A glacial landform is one that was produced by the movement of glaciers (flowing ice). Huge icebergs called glaciers flow through water, and their motions and erosions cause a variety of landforms to be created. These enormous ice chunks and meltwater polish, striate, and erode rocks and may act as weathering agents. Some of the landforms made by glaciers include fjords, U-shaped valleys, the cirque landform, horns, hanging valleys, moraines, paternoster lakes, glacial till and flour, and kettles. 

In higher mountain ranges, parts of Greenland, and Antarctica, glacial formations are typical. During the ice ages, ice-covered around 30% of our world. As a result of climate change, glaciers and melting ice created a variety of landforms. The majority of glacial landforms are still seen in areas that were formerly covered in glaciers. In freezing climates, periglacial landforms are also created.

Lakes created by glaciers in the mountains

In the high elevation of the glacierized basin, glacial lakes are frequent. They are created when natural depressions, such as moraines or glacial ice, impound water. There are several types of these lakes, from little pools of meltwater on the glacier’s surface to sizable lakes in side valleys that have been blocked by a glacier in the main valley. Normally, the water from these lakes seeps out ahead of the retreating glacier. The glacial lake is formed when the meltwater is typically collected in the topographic depression that the moraine generates. In the event that this lake becomes waterproof, meltwaters will build up in the basin until seepage or overflow restricts the lake’s capacity.

Glacier Moraines

Material that a moving glacier has left behind is called a moraine. Typically, this stuff is made of rock and dirt. Similar to how rivers move a variety of dirt and rocks that ultimately accumulate to produce deltas, glaciers convey a variety of debris and silt that eventually piles up to form moraines. Only areas where there are or have been glaciers have moraines. Glaciers are enormous rivers of flowing ice. A process known as glaciation uses glaciers to alter the terrain. For thousands of years, glaciation can have an impact on the local land, rocks, and water. As a result, moraines are frequently quite ancient.

FAQs on Work of Ice

Question 1: What accomplishes ice glaciers?

Answer:

Snow that has fallen over a long period of time and has been compressed into vast quantities of thicker ice makes up glaciers. Snow turns into ice when it sits in one place for a long enough period of time. The capacity of glaciers to flow is what distinguishes them. Glaciers run like very sluggish rivers as a result of their tremendous bulk.

Question 2: What are glaciers?

Answer:

The “rivers of ice” that are glaciers also erode the terrain by removing rocks and dirt to reveal the solid rock beneath. There, glaciers cut quite substantial hollows. The mountains become magnificent lakes as the ice melts and are filled with water. Sand and silt as well as large and tiny boulders transported by the glacier are deposited. These accumulations create glacial moraines.

Question 3: Write the types of glacier moraines.

Answer:

There are four basic types of moraines.

  1. Lateral Moraines.
  2. Medial Moraines.
  3. Supraglacial Moraines.
  4. Terminal Moraines.

Last Updated : 13 Sep, 2022
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