Informational Articals - Glaciers - Glacier Erosion

While glaciers are very pretty to look at they also create some different issues for the landscaping around them. One of the biggest issues that isn’t good for the environment is glacier erosion. As a glacier moves it creates a thin layer of ice along the bottom. When a glacier moves quickly it result in cracks in the base of the glacier forming. The erosion of the rock underneath a glacier continues as the glacier moves around. This erosion leaves the soil severely damaged so nothing is able to grow on it.

Glacier erosion takes place in one of two ways – abrasion and plucking. Abrasion is the process of the rocks scraping due to the amount of friction present between the rocks and another object such as water, wind, or gravity. Plucking occurs when the glacier moves along areas that have already been damaged by various elements. These loose pieces of rock are then removed from their natural area as they become attached to the bottom of the glacier. These rocks result in the glacier doing even more damage as it moves forward.

There are many factors that determine the rate at which glacier erosion occurs. Scientists continue to study these factors to estimate the amount of damage this type of erosion is going to have on the land. They are also looking for ways to prevent such damage from occurring. Some of these factors that determine the rate of glacier erosion include the speed that the glacier is moving at, how thick the ice is, the amount of plucking that has occurred and attached to the bottom of the glacier, the condition of the area underneath the glacier, and the amount of water pressure that is found at the base of the glacier.

Due to glacier erosion many small valleys and openings in a given area are opened up more than they should be. The rocks on the sides of these openings aren’t as secure as they would otherwise be. As a result of glacier erosion these areas are unstable and rock slides are quite common. Some of the deep impressions left from glacier erosion can cause water run off to be deviated from the natural course it would normally take.