Types of galcier

What types of glaciers are there?

Ice Sheets

-Only found in Antarctica and Greenland

-Huge mass of ice and snow (50,000sq km)

Ice Shelves

-When an ice sheet extents over the sea and floats on water

-100-1000 metres thick

-Mainly around Antarctica

-When they retreat, this is an indication of climate change

-Larsen Ice Shelf has been retreating since 1998

Ice Caps

-Mini ice sheets (less than 50,000sq km)
-Usually in polar and sub-polar regions
-Flat and tall

Ice Streams and Outlet Glaciers

-Channelled glaciers that flow rapidly compared to the rest of the ice

Icefields

-Similar to ice caps

-Flow is determined by underlying topography

-Smaller than ice caps

Mountain Glaciers

-In high mountain regions

-Flow out of an ice field

-Can be seen in Canada, the Andres, Alaska

Valley Glaciers

-Originate from mountain glaciers or ice fields

-Flow down valleys

-Can be long and flow beyond the snow line

Piedmont Glaciers

-When steep valley glaciers flow to flat plains

-Malaspina glacier in Alaska prime example

Cirque Glaciers

-Occupy blow-like holes

-Usually found in high mountainside.

-Tend to be wide and long

Hanging Glaciers

-Cling to steep mountainsides

-Wider and long

-Common on the Alps where they cause avalanches

Tidewater Glaciers

-Reach the sea

-Carve icebergs

(Adapted from http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/questions/types.html)