Terms Associated with Glaciers

Ice: Ice is water, frozen into a solid state, typically forming at or below temperatures of 0 °C, 32 °F, or 273.15 K. Ice forms naturally on Earth and other planets.

Glacier: A glacier is a huge sheet of ice that moves due to its weight and the pull of gravity. Glaciers form as layers of snow accumulate and are compressed to form ice. Glaciers occur when the average annual snowfall exceeds the rate at which the snow melts, and the snow compresses into glacial ice. Glacial ice or Glaciers are formed above the snowline and in extremely cold climate conditions.

Glaciers change land by eroding, transporting and moving huge amounts of sediment.

Note: A Glacier typically moves about 25 cm per day.

Glaciation: This is the formation, existence, or movement of glaciers over the Earth’s