glaciology
Frozen river study
Glaciology is the scientific study of glaciers and ice sheets—their formation, movement, and effects on landscape and climate.
The field encompasses both the physics of ice behavior and the geological record glaciers leave behind: Glaciology has become increasingly important as researchers track polar ice loss.
Thick glacial landmass covering
- icecapPermanent polar covering
- firnYear-old compacting snow
- crevasseDeep glacial fissure
- seracGlacial ice pinnacle
ice core · berg · floe · pack ice · sea ice · blue ice · rime · permafrost
Studying drilled glacier samples
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- sedimentologyStudy of geological deposits
- geochronologyStudy of geological ages
- remote sensingGathering data without contact
field station · cryosphere · geophysics · paleoclimatology · drilling
Removal by cutting, melting
- accumulationCollected mass over time
- mass balanceNet change in glacier ice
- calvingIce mass separation
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
advance · surging · flow · deformation · meltwater · runoff · sublimation · terminus
Glacier-deposited debris pile
- drumlinStreamlined glacial hill
- eskerSerpentine glacial gravel deposit
- tillRegister drawer for money
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
cirque · arête · horn · fjord · kettle · outwash · roche moutonnée · striations
Southernmost continental landmass
- GreenlandLargest island on Earth
- AlpsEuropean mountain system
- HimalayasAsia's highest range
- AndesSouth American western range
Patagonia · Alaska · Svalbard · Iceland · Arctic · Tibetan Plateau · Rockies · Karakoram
Past geological climate conditions
- anthropoceneEra of human dominance
- ice ageEra of massive glaciation
- albedoSurface reflection coefficient
- carbon cycleBiogeochemical element circulation process
ice sheet
Thick glacial landmass covering
serac · ice core · berg · floe · pack ice · sea ice · blue ice · rime · permafrost · ice shelf
ice core analysis
Studying drilled glacier samples
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- sedimentologyStudy of geological deposits
- geochronologyStudy of geological ages
remote sensing · field station · cryosphere · geophysics · paleoclimatology · drilling
ablation
Removal by cutting, melting
- accumulationCollected mass over time
- mass balanceNet change in glacier ice
- calvingIce mass separation
retreat · advance · surging · flow · deformation · meltwater · runoff · sublimation · terminus · snout
moraine
Glacier-deposited debris pile
erratic · cirque · arête · horn · fjord · kettle · outwash · roche moutonnée · striations · hanging valley
Antarctica
Southernmost continental landmass
Andes · Patagonia · Alaska · Svalbard · Iceland · Arctic · Tibetan Plateau · Rockies · Karakoram · polar
paleoclimate
Past geological climate conditions
- anthropoceneEra of human dominance
- ice ageEra of massive glaciation
- albedoSurface reflection coefficient
- sciencesbiology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, geology
- AntarcticaSouth Pole, Amundsen, Scott, penguins, ice sheet
- ArcticArctic Circle, Arctic Ocean, Arctic wildlife, Arctic exploration, Arctic research
- earth scienceatmosphere, earthquake, geology, volcano, crust
- ecologyhabitat, ecosystem, balance, niche, food webs
- Earth Sciencesgeology, geoscience, earth science, meteorology, oceanography
glaciologyvolcanology
Study of erupting mountains
meteorology · hydrology · oceanography · seismology · atmospheric science