glaciation
Ice sheet formation
Glaciation is the formation and spread of glaciers, or more broadly, any period when large portions of Earth's surface were covered by ice sheets.
Scientists speak of multiple glaciations in Earth's history, with the most recent ending about 12,000 years ago.
The term also describes the geological effects of glacial activity: The valley's U-shape is evidence of past glaciation.
Past geological climate conditions
- PleistoceneAncient glacial geological period
- HoloceneCurrent geological epoch
- ice ageEra of massive glaciation
- QuaternaryLast 2.6 million years
Milankovitch cycles · albedo · ice cores · oxygen isotopes · sea level · temperature · precipitation · snowline
Glacier-carved mountain basin
- fjordGlacially carved coastal inlet
- drumlinStreamlined glacial hill
- eskerSerpentine glacial gravel deposit
- areteSharp glacial ridge
horn · tarn · roche moutonnée · hanging valley · trimline · erratics · till · crevasse
Shallow surface wound
- pluckingRemoving by tugging
- erosionGradual wearing away
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
- scouringVigorous abrasive cleaning
quarrying · calving · retreat · advance · meltwater · sublimation · compaction · flow
Earth's northernmost zone
- AntarcticaSouthernmost continental landmass
- GreenlandLargest island on Earth
- ice sheetThick glacial landmass covering
- ice capPermanent dome-shaped glacier
permafrost · tundra · icebergs · polar regions · ice shelf · ice field · cryosphere
Ancient glacial geological period
- megafaunaSpecies over 44 kilograms
- mammothExtinct elephant with curved tusks
- mastodonExtinct elephantine Pleistocene mammal
- NeanderthalExtinct archaic human species
Paleolithic · extinction · migration · land bridge · Beringia · fossils · prehistoric · hunter-gatherers
paleoclimate
Past geological climate conditions
- PleistoceneAncient glacial geological period
- HoloceneCurrent geological epoch
- ice ageEra of massive glaciation
Quaternary · Milankovitch cycles · albedo · ice cores · oxygen isotopes · sea level · temperature · precipitation · snowline · deglaciation
cirque
Glacier-carved mountain basin
- fjordGlacially carved coastal inlet
- drumlinStreamlined glacial hill
- eskerSerpentine glacial gravel deposit
arete · horn · tarn · roche moutonnée · hanging valley · trimline · erratics · till · crevasse
abrasion
Shallow surface wound
- pluckingRemoving by tugging
- erosionGradual wearing away
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
scouring · quarrying · calving · retreat · advance · meltwater · sublimation · compaction · flow · surging
Arctic
Earth's northernmost zone
- AntarcticaSouthernmost continental landmass
- GreenlandLargest island on Earth
- ice sheetThick glacial landmass covering
ice cap · permafrost · tundra · icebergs · polar regions · ice shelf · ice field · cryosphere
Pleistocene
Ancient glacial geological period
- megafaunaSpecies over 44 kilograms
- mammothExtinct elephant with curved tusks
- mastodonExtinct elephantine Pleistocene mammal
Neanderthal · Paleolithic · extinction · migration · land bridge · Beringia · fossils · prehistoric · hunter-gatherers · refugia
- climateclimate change, climate, weather, global warming, temperature
- Natural Processesphotosynthesis, decomposition, evaporation, erosion, carbon cycle
- American geologyGrand Canyon, Yellowstone, Rocky Mountains, Appalachians, Sierra Nevada
- Earth processesplate tectonics, erosion, weathering, volcanism, sedimentation
- glacierscrevasse, iceberg, firn, ice shelves, cirque
- Climate Erasice age, Little Ice Age, cooling period, ice ages, icehouse
glaciationdeglaciation
Retreat of glaciers
warming · global warming · interglacial · greenhouse conditions · thaw
glaciationdeglaciation
Retreat of glaciers
thaw · melting · glacial retreat · ablation · glacier melt