All About Glaciers

By Ashritha Raghavendra

June 03, 2022

What Is a Glacier?

A glacier is an accumulation of snow, rock, sediment, and water over several centuries. They are formed in areas where the temperature is close to the freezing point.

Image source: Unsplash

Where Are Glaciers Found?

Glaciers are mostly found in the polar regions, such as Greenland, Antarctica, and the Canadian Arctic. Antarctica has 91% of the world’s glaciers.

Image source: Unsplash

World’s Largest Glacier

The Lambert Glacier in Antarctica is considered the largest glacier in the world. It measures approximately 100 km wide, 400 km long, and 2.5 km deep.

Image source: Unsplash

Freshwater Reservoirs

75% of the world’s fresh water originates from glaciers. These masses of ice melt very slowly to flow like rivers.

Image source: Unsplash

Source of Irrigation

From Switzerland to Ladakh, farmers have relied on fresh water from glaciers for centuries, especially during the dry seasons.

Image source: Unsplash

Indicators of Climate Change

Glaciers help keep the Earth cool by reflecting surface heat back into the atmosphere. Thus, when glaciers melt it directly impacts the global temperature.

Image source: Unsplash

Melting Masses

The alarming increase in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions since the Industrial Revolution has increased the global temperature, thereby rapidly melting glaciers.

Image source: Unsplash

Be the Change

Slowing down global warming can reduce glacial melting. Using public transportation, being energy efficient, and adapting alternate energy sources such as solar energy and biofuels could be a great start.

Image source: Unsplash