Glacier - Revision history

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	[[File:Glacier_Bay_National_Park.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|Figure 1. A photo of a glacier at Glacier Bay National Park.<ref>Wikimedia Commons. (October 4, 2015). ''Glacier Bay National Park'' [Online]. Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Glacier_Bay_National_Park.jpg</ref>]]		[[File:Glacier_Bay_National_Park.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|Figure 1. A photo of a glacier at Glacier Bay National Park.<ref>Wikimedia Commons. (October 4, 2015). ''Glacier Bay National Park'' [Online]. Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Glacier_Bay_National_Park.jpg</ref>]]

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energy>Jmdonev at 22:51, 18 February 2020

2020-02-18T22:51:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:51, 18 February 2020
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	[[File:Glacier_Bay_National_Park.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|Figure 1. A photo of a glacier at Glacier Bay National Park.<ref>Wikimedia Commons. (October 4, 2015). ''Glacier Bay National Park'' [Online]. Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Glacier_Bay_National_Park.jpg</ref>]]		[[File:Glacier_Bay_National_Park.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|Figure 1. A photo of a glacier at Glacier Bay National Park.<ref>Wikimedia Commons. (October 4, 2015). ''Glacier Bay National Park'' [Online]. Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Glacier_Bay_National_Park.jpg</ref>]]

	<onlyinclude>A '''glacier''' is a large mass of ice on land that flows downhill under the force of [[gravity]]. A significant fraction of the glaciers in the world are shrinking, which is a big concern because glaciers provide drinking and irrigation water for a significant fraction of the world.</onlyinclude> Glaciers move as a result of deformation inside the glacier or sliding at its base, and its downhill movement is resisted by stress and [[friction]] at the base and sides of the glacier. The size of a glacier is maintained by snow falling and accumulating at high altitudes while the ice melts at lower altitudes.<ref name=IPCC_SREX>IPCC, 2012: Glossary of terms. In: Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation [Field, C.B., V. Barros, T.F. Stocker, D. Qin, D.J. Dokken, K.L. Ebi, M.D. Mastrandrea, K.J. Mach, G.-K. Plattner, S.K. Allen, M. Tignor, and P.M. Midgley (eds.)]. A Special Report of Working Groups I and II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, and New York, NY, USA, pp. 555-564.</ref> While glaciers have fluctuated for the entirety of Earth's existence—the recent rapid receding of many glaciers due to climate change has become a cause for concern.		<onlyinclude>A '''glacier''' is a large mass of ice on land that flows downhill under the force of [[gravity]]. A significant fraction of the glaciers in the world are shrinking, which is a big concern because glaciers provide drinking and irrigation water for a significant fraction of the world. When glaciers get smaller, this receding is referred to as '''glacial retreat'''.</onlyinclude><ref>Glacier types: Retreating from "https://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/gallery/retreating.html" accessed February 18th, 2020.</ref> Glaciers move as a result of deformation inside the glacier or sliding at its base, and its downhill movement is resisted by stress and [[friction]] at the base and sides of the glacier. The size of a glacier is maintained by snow falling and accumulating at high altitudes while the ice melts at lower altitudes.<ref name=IPCC_SREX>IPCC, 2012: Glossary of terms. In: Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation [Field, C.B., V. Barros, T.F. Stocker, D. Qin, D.J. Dokken, K.L. Ebi, M.D. Mastrandrea, K.J. Mach, G.-K. Plattner, S.K. Allen, M. Tignor, and P.M. Midgley (eds.)]. A Special Report of Working Groups I and II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, and New York, NY, USA, pp. 555-564.</ref> While glaciers have fluctuated for the entirety of Earth's existence—the recent rapid receding of many glaciers due to climate change has become a cause for concern.

	Glaciers make up a fairly large component of the Earth's [[cryosphere]]—covering about 10% of the Earth's total land area. Glaciers are primarily located in colder polar regions such as Antarctica, Greenland, and the Arctic.<ref name="RE2">National Snow and Ice Data Center. (October 12, 2015). ''What is a Glacer?'' [Online]. Available: http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/questions/what.html</ref> Most of these glaciers are found in Antarctica and Greenland, but glaciers are found on almost every continent. Since there must be high snowfall in winter and cool [[temperature]]s in summer for glaciers to exist, they are generally found above the snow line in mountainous regions or polar regions.<ref>National Snow and Ice Data Center. (October 12, 2015). ''Where are Glaciers Located?'' [Online]. Available: http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/questions/located.html</ref>		Glaciers make up a fairly large component of the Earth's [[cryosphere]]—covering about 10% of the Earth's total land area. Glaciers are primarily located in colder polar regions such as Antarctica, Greenland, and the Arctic.<ref name="RE2">National Snow and Ice Data Center. (October 12, 2015). ''What is a Glacer?'' [Online]. Available: http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/questions/what.html</ref> Most of these glaciers are found in Antarctica and Greenland, but glaciers are found on almost every continent. Since there must be high snowfall in winter and cool [[temperature]]s in summer for glaciers to exist, they are generally found above the snow line in mountainous regions or polar regions.<ref>National Snow and Ice Data Center. (October 12, 2015). ''Where are Glaciers Located?'' [Online]. Available: http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/questions/located.html</ref>

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported: Doing upload, largely of old redirects.

2018-06-04T16:52:22Z

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Jmdonev at 23:05, 31 May 2018

2018-05-31T23:05:27Z

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	[[File:Glacier_Bay_National_Park.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|Figure 1. A photo of a glacier at Glacier Bay National Park.<ref>Wikimedia Commons. (October 4, 2015). ''Glacier Bay National Park'' [Online]. Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Glacier_Bay_National_Park.jpg</ref>]]		[[File:Glacier_Bay_National_Park.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|Figure 1. A photo of a glacier at Glacier Bay National Park.<ref>Wikimedia Commons. (October 4, 2015). ''Glacier Bay National Park'' [Online]. Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Glacier_Bay_National_Park.jpg</ref>]]

	<onlyinclude>A '''glacier''' is a large mass of ice on land that flows downhill under the force of [[gravity]]. A significant fraction of the glaciers in the world are shrinking, which is a big concern because glaciers provide drinking and irrigation water for a significant fraction of the world.</onlyinclude> Glaciers move as a result of deformation inside the glacier or sliding at its base, and its downhill movement is resisted by stress and [[friction]] at the base and sides of the glacier. The size of a glacier is maintained by snow falling and accumulating at high altitudes while the ice melts at lower altitudes.<ref name=IPCC_SREX>IPCC, 2012: Glossary of terms. In: Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation [Field, C.B., V. Barros, T.F. Stocker, D. Qin, D.J. Dokken, K.L. Ebi, M.D. Mastrandrea, K.J. Mach, G.-K. Plattner, S.K. Allen, M. Tignor, and P.M. Midgley (eds.)]. A Special Report of Working Groups I and II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, and New York, NY, USA, pp. 555-564.</ref> While glaciers have fluctuated ~~all~~ of Earth's ~~past the~~ recent rapid receding of many glaciers due to climate change has become a cause for concern.		<onlyinclude>A '''glacier''' is a large mass of ice on land that flows downhill under the force of [[gravity]]. A significant fraction of the glaciers in the world are shrinking, which is a big concern because glaciers provide drinking and irrigation water for a significant fraction of the world.</onlyinclude> Glaciers move as a result of deformation inside the glacier or sliding at its base, and its downhill movement is resisted by stress and [[friction]] at the base and sides of the glacier. The size of a glacier is maintained by snow falling and accumulating at high altitudes while the ice melts at lower altitudes.<ref name=IPCC_SREX>IPCC, 2012: Glossary of terms. In: Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation [Field, C.B., V. Barros, T.F. Stocker, D. Qin, D.J. Dokken, K.L. Ebi, M.D. Mastrandrea, K.J. Mach, G.-K. Plattner, S.K. Allen, M. Tignor, and P.M. Midgley (eds.)]. A Special Report of Working Groups I and II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, and New York, NY, USA, pp. 555-564.</ref> While glaciers have fluctuated for the entirety of Earth's existence—the recent rapid receding of many glaciers due to climate change has become a cause for concern.

	Glaciers make up a fairly large component of the Earth's [[cryosphere]] ~~- covering~~ about 10% of the Earth's total land area. Glaciers are primarily located in colder polar regions such as Antarctica, Greenland, and the Arctic.<ref name="RE2">National Snow and Ice Data Center. (October 12, 2015). ''What is a Glacer?'' [Online]. Available: http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/questions/what.html</ref> Most of these glaciers are found in Antarctica and Greenland, but glaciers are found on almost every continent. Since there must be high snowfall in winter and cool [[temperature]]s in summer for glaciers to exist, they generally ~~are~~ found above the snow line in mountainous regions or polar regions.<ref>National Snow and Ice Data Center. (October 12, 2015). ''Where are Glaciers Located?'' [Online]. Available: http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/questions/located.html</ref>		Glaciers make up a fairly large component of the Earth's [[cryosphere]]—covering about 10% of the Earth's total land area. Glaciers are primarily located in colder polar regions such as Antarctica, Greenland, and the Arctic.<ref name="RE2">National Snow and Ice Data Center. (October 12, 2015). ''What is a Glacer?'' [Online]. Available: http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/questions/what.html</ref> Most of these glaciers are found in Antarctica and Greenland, but glaciers are found on almost every continent. Since there must be high snowfall in winter and cool [[temperature]]s in summer for glaciers to exist, they are generally found above the snow line in mountainous regions or polar regions.<ref>National Snow and Ice Data Center. (October 12, 2015). ''Where are Glaciers Located?'' [Online]. Available: http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/questions/located.html</ref>

	==Receding Glaciers==		==Receding Glaciers==
	Glaciers are said to be '''retreating''' when their ~~terminus - the~~ point at which a glacier ~~ends - doesn~~'t extend as far as it previously did. Glaciers are reduced in size and retreat when their ice melts more quickly than snowfall can collect to form new glacial ice.<ref name="RE1">National Snow and Ice Data Center. (October 12, 2015). ''Glacier Types: Retreating'' [Online]. Available: http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/gallery/retreating.html</ref> Since glaciers are dynamic in ~~nature - continually~~ shrinking and growing as a result of fluctuating ~~snowfall - they~~ respond to variations in the [[climate]] and can paint a picture about how drastic [[climate change]] really is.<ref>USGS. (October 12, 2015). ''Retreat of Glaciers'' [Online]. Available: http://nrmsc.usgs.gov/research/glacier_retreat.htm</ref>		Glaciers are said to be '''retreating''' when their terminus—the point at which a glacier ends—doesn't extend as far as it previously did. Glaciers are reduced in size and retreat when their ice melts more quickly than snowfall can collect to form new glacial ice.<ref name="RE1">National Snow and Ice Data Center. (October 12, 2015). ''Glacier Types: Retreating'' [Online]. Available: http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/gallery/retreating.html</ref> Since glaciers are dynamic in nature—continually shrinking and growing as a result of fluctuating snowfall—they respond to variations in the [[climate]] and can paint a picture about how drastic [[climate change]] really is.<ref>USGS. (October 12, 2015). ''Retreat of Glaciers'' [Online]. Available: http://nrmsc.usgs.gov/research/glacier_retreat.htm</ref>

	[[File:muir_3years_41_76_04.jpg\|780px\|thumb\|center\|Figure 2. Three comparative photographs to show how the Muir Glacier in Glacier Bay, Alaska has receded. The photograph on the left was taken in 1941, the middle photo in 1976, and the right photo in 2004.<ref>National Snow and Ice Data Center. 2002, updated 2009. Glacier Photograph Collection. Boulder, Colorado USA: National Snow and Ice Data Center.</ref>		[[File:muir_3years_41_76_04.jpg\|780px\|thumb\|center\|Figure 2. Three comparative photographs to show how the Muir Glacier in Glacier Bay, Alaska has receded. The photograph on the left was taken in 1941, the middle photo in 1976, and the right photo in 2004.<ref>National Snow and Ice Data Center. 2002, updated 2009. Glacier Photograph Collection. Boulder, Colorado USA: National Snow and Ice Data Center.</ref>
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	==Effects of Receding Glaciers==		==Effects of Receding Glaciers==
	The loss of glaciers as a result of melting from global warming is a concern as glaciers serve many purposes. First, glaciers are composed of ~~freshwater - not saltwater - and thus provide~~ people with drinking water. People living in dry areas near mountains rely on the water melting from glaciers for drinking water. Additionally, many rivers that provide people with water are fed at least partially from melting glaciers. If glaciers recede too drastically, there will be significantly less glacial meltwater and a large number of people will have a reduced supply of drinking water. Similarly, there are places in Asia and even in Europe that direct glacial meltwater to irrigate their crops.<ref>National Snow and Ice Data Center. (October 12, 2015). ''Do Glaciers Effect People?'' [Online]. Available: http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/questions/people.html</ref>		The loss of glaciers as a result of melting from global warming is a concern as glaciers serve many purposes. First, glaciers are composed of freshwater—not saltwater—thus providing people with drinking water. People living in dry areas near mountains rely on the water melting from glaciers for drinking water. Additionally, many rivers that provide people with water are fed at least partially from melting glaciers. If glaciers recede too drastically, there will be significantly less glacial meltwater and a large number of people will have a reduced supply of drinking water. Similarly, there are places in Asia and even in Europe that direct glacial meltwater to irrigate their crops.<ref>National Snow and Ice Data Center. (October 12, 2015). ''Do Glaciers Effect People?'' [Online]. Available: http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/questions/people.html</ref>

	Additionally, the melting of glaciers can result in a [[positive feedback]] cycle that can speed up climate change. This effect is known as the ice-albedo feedback cycle. Ice in glaciers is white and highly ~~reflective - corresponding~~ to a high [[albedo]]. This reflectivity prevents some incident [[sunlight]] that hits the glacier from being absorbed.<ref>NASA Global Climate Change. (October 10, 2015). ''The Study of Earth as an Integrated System'' [Online]. Available: http://climate.nasa.gov/nasa_role/science/</ref> However, when ice melts the vegetation, soil, or [[water]] beneath the glacier is exposed. These surfaces are darker and heat faster and thus have a lower albedo. As these surfaces with a lower albedo are exposed to the [[Sun]], they absorb more [[solar radiation]] than the ice would have. This absorption further raises temperatures and causes even more ice to melt, continuously heating and pushing the cycle.<ref>Climate Communication. (October 10, 2015). ''Climate Warming Feedback'' [Online]. Available: https://www.climatecommunication.org/climate/climate_feedbacks/</ref>		Additionally, the melting of glaciers can result in a [[positive feedback]] cycle that can speed up climate change. This effect is known as the ice-albedo feedback cycle. Ice in glaciers is white and highly reflective—corresponding to a high [[albedo]]. This reflectivity prevents some incident [[sunlight]] that hits the glacier from being absorbed.<ref>NASA Global Climate Change. (October 10, 2015). ''The Study of Earth as an Integrated System'' [Online]. Available: http://climate.nasa.gov/nasa_role/science/</ref> However, when ice melts the vegetation, soil, or [[water]] beneath the glacier is exposed. These surfaces are darker and heat faster and thus have a lower albedo. As these surfaces with a lower albedo are exposed to the [[Sun]], they absorb more [[solar radiation]] than the ice would have. This absorption further raises temperatures and causes even more ice to melt, continuously heating and pushing the cycle.<ref>Climate Communication. (October 10, 2015). ''Climate Warming Feedback'' [Online]. Available: https://www.climatecommunication.org/climate/climate_feedbacks/</ref>

			== For Further Reading ==
			For further information please see the related pages below:
			*[[Ice age]]
			*[[Rising sea level]]
			*[[Glacial lake outburst flood]] (also called [[GLOF]]s)
			*[[Glacial and interglacial periods]]
			*[[Climate change]]
			*Or explore a [[Special:Random\| random page]]

	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}[[Category:Uploaded]]

J.williams: 1 revision imported

2015-11-13T01:47:32Z

1 revision imported

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Jmdonev at 21:30, 22 October 2015

2015-10-22T21:30:51Z

New page

[[Category:Done 2015-10-15]]
[[File:Glacier_Bay_National_Park.jpg|400px|thumb|Figure 1. A photo of a glacier at Glacier Bay National Park.<ref>Wikimedia Commons. (October 4, 2015). ''Glacier Bay National Park'' [Online]. Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Glacier_Bay_National_Park.jpg</ref>]]

<onlyinclude>A '''glacier''' is a large mass of ice on land that flows downhill under the force of [[gravity]]. A significant fraction of the glaciers in the world are shrinking, which is a big concern because glaciers provide drinking and irrigation water for a significant fraction of the world.</onlyinclude> Glaciers move as a result of deformation inside the glacier or sliding at its base, and its downhill movement is resisted by stress and [[friction]] at the base and sides of the glacier. The size of a glacier is maintained by snow falling and accumulating at high altitudes while the ice melts at lower altitudes.<ref name=IPCC_SREX>IPCC, 2012: Glossary of terms. In: Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation [Field, C.B., V. Barros, T.F. Stocker, D. Qin, D.J. Dokken, K.L. Ebi, M.D. Mastrandrea, K.J. Mach, G.-K. Plattner, S.K. Allen, M. Tignor, and P.M. Midgley (eds.)]. A Special Report of Working Groups I and II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, and New York, NY, USA, pp. 555-564.</ref> While glaciers have fluctuated all of Earth's past the recent rapid receding of many glaciers due to climate change has become a cause for concern.

Glaciers make up a fairly large component of the Earth's [[cryosphere]] - covering about 10% of the Earth's total land area. Glaciers are primarily located in colder polar regions such as Antarctica, Greenland, and the Arctic.<ref name="RE2">National Snow and Ice Data Center. (October 12, 2015). ''What is a Glacer?'' [Online]. Available: http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/questions/what.html</ref> Most of these glaciers are found in Antarctica and Greenland, but glaciers are found on almost every continent. Since there must be high snowfall in winter and cool [[temperature]]s in summer for glaciers to exist, they generally are found above the snow line in mountainous regions or polar regions.<ref>National Snow and Ice Data Center. (October 12, 2015). ''Where are Glaciers Located?'' [Online]. Available: http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/questions/located.html</ref>

==Receding Glaciers==
Glaciers are said to be '''retreating''' when their terminus - the point at which a glacier ends - doesn't extend as far as it previously did. Glaciers are reduced in size and retreat when their ice melts more quickly than snowfall can collect to form new glacial ice.<ref name="RE1">National Snow and Ice Data Center. (October 12, 2015). ''Glacier Types: Retreating'' [Online]. Available: http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/gallery/retreating.html</ref> Since glaciers are dynamic in nature - continually shrinking and growing as a result of fluctuating snowfall - they respond to variations in the [[climate]] and can paint a picture about how drastic [[climate change]] really is.<ref>USGS. (October 12, 2015). ''Retreat of Glaciers'' [Online]. Available: http://nrmsc.usgs.gov/research/glacier_retreat.htm</ref>

[[File:muir_3years_41_76_04.jpg|780px|thumb|center|Figure 2. Three comparative photographs to show how the Muir Glacier in Glacier Bay, Alaska has receded. The photograph on the left was taken in 1941, the middle photo in 1976, and the right photo in 2004.<ref>National Snow and Ice Data Center. 2002, updated 2009. Glacier Photograph Collection. Boulder, Colorado USA: National Snow and Ice Data Center.</ref>
]]

In recent history, many glaciers worldwide have been retreating because of the higher average temperatures and lower snowfall in the past few decades. This means that the retreat of glaciers can be connected to human activities, as the [[combustion]] of [[fossil fuel]]s and addition of [[greenhouse gases]] to the [[atmosphere]] [[global warming|warms the planet]].

==Effects of Receding Glaciers==
The loss of glaciers as a result of melting from global warming is a concern as glaciers serve many purposes. First, glaciers are composed of freshwater - not saltwater - and thus provide people with drinking water. People living in dry areas near mountains rely on the water melting from glaciers for drinking water. Additionally, many rivers that provide people with water are fed at least partially from melting glaciers. If glaciers recede too drastically, there will be significantly less glacial meltwater and a large number of people will have a reduced supply of drinking water. Similarly, there are places in Asia and even in Europe that direct glacial meltwater to irrigate their crops.<ref>National Snow and Ice Data Center. (October 12, 2015). ''Do Glaciers Effect People?'' [Online]. Available: http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/questions/people.html</ref>

Additionally, the melting of glaciers can result in a [[positive feedback]] cycle that can speed up climate change. This effect is known as the ice-albedo feedback cycle. Ice in glaciers is white and highly reflective - corresponding to a high [[albedo]]. This reflectivity prevents some incident [[sunlight]] that hits the glacier from being absorbed.<ref>NASA Global Climate Change. (October 10, 2015). ''The Study of Earth as an Integrated System'' [Online]. Available: http://climate.nasa.gov/nasa_role/science/</ref> However, when ice melts the vegetation, soil, or [[water]] beneath the glacier is exposed. These surfaces are darker and heat faster and thus have a lower albedo. As these surfaces with a lower albedo are exposed to the [[Sun]], they absorb more [[solar radiation]] than the ice would have. This absorption further raises temperatures and causes even more ice to melt, continuously heating and pushing the cycle.<ref>Climate Communication. (October 10, 2015). ''Climate Warming Feedback'' [Online]. Available: https://www.climatecommunication.org/climate/climate_feedbacks/</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}