Glaciers—Nature’s Ice Sculptor

Nature’s Ice Sculptor

Mt Fuji Mt Rainier

 You will be performing a WEBQUEST to search for the evidence that glaciers leave behind.  REMEMBER the question that you are trying to answer is “Are there glaciers on Mount Rainier And/or Mount Fuji?”  As you perform your WEBQUEST construct a list of at least 5 types of evidence that may be used to answer this question.

Nature’s Ice Sculptor

 Write a 5-8 sentence conclusion paragraph answering the question: “Are there glaciers on Mount Rainier And/or Mount Fuji?”  Remember to:  Tell the research question that you are answering  Tell why the question is important  Write your answer to the question  Explain the evidence you have to support your answer.

Nature’s Ice Sculptor

Glacial Trough- As glaciers advance down a mountain, they erode the normally V-shaped valleys into wide U-shaped valleys with flat bottoms. Notice that the Nisqually Valley pictured is much larger than the Nisqually River’s channel. This river is actually pictured at high flow. This valley is also full of sediment that has been left behind as the Nisqually Glacier retreated.

Glacial Flour– Streams flowing from glaciers are often full of fine silt that is the result of grinding. Streams that contain glacial flour appear milky white or brown like Tahoma Creek does in this photo.

Striations-- As a glacier rubs against the surrounding rocks it may leave scratches called striations behind. These striations are found on rocks in Box Canyon.

Lateral Moraine— A pile of rocks and other debris that formed when this glacier called the Nisqually Glacier was much larger. Glaciers also leave behind terminal moraines which mark a glaciers farthest point down-stream before retreating. Terminal moraines can sometimes dam a river channel forming a lake.

Thick Lava Flows-- During the time that this lava flow occurred, this valley was occupied by a glacier at least as thick as the ridge. When the lava flowed down from the summit, it pooled against the glacier cooling fairly quickly forming this steep ridge called Rampart Ridge

Columns—These horizontal columns formed when this lava flow cooled quickly against a glacier. The columns form perpendicular to the cooling surface, so if they are horizontal, it means that they cooled from the side NOT the top. Ridges of columns are sometimes called colonnades.

Cirque and Kettle Lakes-- This bowl- shaped depression is called a cirque. Cirques often fill with water as the glacier melts and retreats forming a kettle lake. This kettle lake is called Lake Louise.