1. GLACIERS AND LANDFORMATION

2. WHAT IS A GLACIER? One of the hardest substances on Earth
Huge long lasting mass of ice flowing over a land
Moves in response to gravity and moves/flows very slowly
Largest reservoir of fresh water on Earth
Donjek Glacier, Yukon, Canada, 1985
Donjek Glacier, Yukon, Canada, 1985

3. Alpine Glaciers ALPINE GLACIERS
Glacier occupying one or more valleys in an alpine region (valley glacier)
Moves down the valley from the high to low elevations because of the gravitational force
Moves only a few centimetres per day
Helps shape the mountain walls, giving them a U-Shape
A glacier that is confined by surrounding mountains
Mountain glaciers are a type of alpine glacier
Alpine Glaciers

4. CONTINENTAL GLACIERS Large span of ice that spreads out over land
Ice sheet which moves under its own weight—pressure and weight
Gives land a smoother appearance by eroding away sharp peaks
Last ice age there was 8 million square kilometres of continental glaciers – up to 4km thick

5. FORMATION OF GLACIERS Snow is repeatedly frozen and thawed
Causing granular ice to form
Granular ice becomes dense under the
enormous pressure from the glacier
Lower layers of the glacier melt under
the pressure and allow the glacier to
move from the pressures of gravity
Upper layers of the glacier are less dense
and brittle, causing pieces to break off
Movement of the glacier usually occurs on
the downward slope—from the forces of gravity

6. GLACIERS IN CANADA
Bear Glacier, Stewart, British Columbia, Canada
Athabasca Glacier, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
In Canada, 2% of the country’s area is covered by glaciers/ice fields
A huge quantity of freshwater is frozen in the polar ice caps
Glaciers are found in the Western Cordillera and the mountains in the eastern Arctic
Largest glacier in Canada is south of the Arctic—area contains 30 glaciers (300km wide and 365 meter deep in some places)
Like groundwater, glaciers are excellent natural storehouses of water
Canada has sold glacier pieces to Japan for money (1.5 kg bag for $30)

7. MOVEMENT OF GLACIERS
Glacier Advancement – accumulation of snow causing increased weight and pressure to move the glacier with the help of gravity
Glacier retreat– the melting/reduction of glacier growth caused by increased temperatures
This movement occurred at least 4 times in the last Ice Age (100, 000 years ago, ending 6000 years ago)
Climate was warm/warmer than today
Change in climate could be the result of the changing tilt of the Earth’s axis

8. ICE MUMMIES!!!
Frozen bodies due to glacial melting are known as ice mummies
Found throughout the entire world – dating back to the beginning of man
Body shown was found by sheep hunters in British Columbia on the slopes of a melting glacier
Kwaday Dan Sinchi was the name given to the man who is said to have come from the fifteenth century