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A. Introduction

• Glaciers

• Glacial geology

• Importance

Photo Credit: NASA; Earth from Space STS066-208-25

B. Formation of Glaciers

• Conversion of snow to ice:

  • melting and refreezing

  • restructuring by wind

  • movement of crystals relative to one another

• Progression: snow to firn to impure ice to true glacial ice

• Conversion rate

C. Survival of Glaciers

• Precipitation

  • Amount

  • percent annual precipitation that's snowfall

• Temperature

D. Geographic Distribution of Glaciers

• Latitude (global distribution)

• Altitude (regional/local distribution)

  • as latitude increases, altitude at which glaciers can exist decreases

• Aspect (local distribution)

  • northeast facing slopes in northern hemisphere

• Continentality: distance from moisture soure (regional distribution)

• Most recent ice age

  
  Image credit: Natural Resources Canada

• Present

E. Summary