How Glaciers Change Our Earth 5.7B

Thinking About Glaciers Glaciers cover about one-tenth of the Earth’s surface. Most of the fresh water found on the Earth is frozen in glaciers. Glaciers move very slowly and can cause very slow changes to the Earth’s surface. What are glaciers? How do glaciers form? How do glaciers change our Earth?

Words to Know Glacier—a large body of moving ice that stays frozen all year Iceberg—a large mounded mass of ice that has broken away from a glacier and floats in the sea Moraine—a ridge of rocks left by a glacier V-shaped valley—low-lying area of land surrounded by higher ground formed by the movements of a glacier

What are Glaciers? Glaciers are large areas of ice and snow that move very slowly.

Where are Glaciers? Some glaciers are in mountains. Some glaciers hang on mountains. Some glaciers are in cirques, areas in mountains rubbed away by glaciers. Cirque Glacier Hanging Glacier

Where are Glaciers? Some glaciers are in mountain valleys. These glaciers look like rivers of ice and snow.

Valley Glaciers Valley glaciers move down mountains. As they move over the Earth’s surface, rocks and dirt break off and are picked up by the glacier. The rocks and dirt become part of the glacier. Some glaciers are in mountains. Some glaciers hang on mountains. Some glaciers are in cirques, areas in mountains rubbed away by glaciers. Some glaciers are in mountain valleys. These glaciers look like rivers of ice and snow.