A glacier geographically is defined as the perennial accumulation of ice, snow, rock, sediment and water as a result of response to geologic forces, changes in temperature and snowfall. It is a large mass of moving that flows slowly on the surface of land. The flow of glacier is so slow such that it cannot be notice easily. A glacial system is made up of components such as ice and sediment contained in the glacier, rocks, or valleys. A glacier forms when there is a mass accumulation of snow and ice which exceeds ablation over a long period of time (Lafferty B., 2006). Glaciers are found in mountainous areas and are considered as indicators of climate. Glaciers contribute a big percentage of the world water resources and variation of sea level.
Iceland is one nation that is well known for existence of glaciers because 11.1 of its landscape is covered by glaciers. The largest glaciers in Iceland are found in south and central highlands due to greater precipitation in south than in north. A century ago, glaciers in Iceland were very small but as a result of coldness, the glaciers grew fast. During the early times, traveling across the glaciers was rare but nowadays people travel across glaciers almost daily. There certain characteristics of Iceland glaciers such as moving glacier tongues and thaw-glaciers with a temperature of zero degrees.
Glaciers in Ice land are of great importance because they are the source of water used for purpose of producing electricity. Nearly all types of glaciers are found in Iceland ranging from extensive glacier caps to small cirque glaciers. The small glaciers are called alpine or valley glaciers. Larger masses of ice may cover the whole mountain or volcano and are classified as ice caps. Most glaciers in Iceland are classified as ice caps because they cover thousands of kilometers (Denniston Derek, 2002). The ice caps are classified in to Vatnajokull, Myrdalsjokull, Tindfjallajokull, Langjokull and Eyjafjallajokull glaciers.
How glaciers in Iceland were made
Glaciers in Iceland are formed in high mountains or around the Polar Regions. The formation of glaciers in Iceland is a procedure that occurs in formation of any other glaciers. Three conditions must be met before glaciers form. First, local climate should be cold enough so as to prevent full melt of accumulated winter snow. This is a necessary and conducive climatic condition in Iceland that favors the formation of glaciers. Second, there should be large accumulation of snow. The climate in Iceland which is cold along Polar Regions favors the accumulation of snow. Third, slope of rock surface upon which the glacier flows should be gentle to prevent snow from being blown away.
Formation of glaciers is as a result of temperature change during the summer which makes snow to melt. During winter season, more snow fall piling up and then during the summer season some snow melts and evaporates. The process of glacier formation is known as glaciations and occurs when thick mass of ice forms from recrystallization of snow. In Iceland temperature remain below freezing point after a snowfall. Accumulation of new snow soon begins to change resulting to a process of glacier formation. Evaporation and recondensation of water leads to recrystallization process which forms smaller, spherical and thicker grains of ice.
The recrystallized snow is known as firn. As more and more snow is deposited and recrystallized into a firn, pressure on the underlying spherical grains of ice increases. The thickness of the snow and ice becomes large increasing the weight which makes the firn to grow into large ice crystals. In certain circumstances where melting occurs in the area of snow accumulation, snow is transformed into ice very quickly (Cohen Andrew, 2003). Persistent pressure melting melts the firn at their constant points of conduct producing miniscule amounts of water which recrystallizes in the spaces found in between firn crystals. The process repeats itself continuously until the firn forms a solid mass of interlocking ice crystals with little air. The gentle surface of the rock and gravity then makes the ice crystals to flow in form of a glacier.
Evolution of glaciers in Iceland
The evolution of glaciers in Iceland is associated with volcanic eruptions. A massive volcanic eruption occurred beneath Icelands ice cap which led to floods. The waters washed away a lot of sediments and ice blocks into Atlantic. The elevated parts of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge exposes island above sea level. This makes it possible for Iceland to have a number of volcanoes. The volcanic eruption weakened mountainous regions in Iceland that led to creation of sloppy surface necessary for flow of glaciers.
The evolution of Vatnajoekull which is one of the largest glaciers in Iceland from sub-glacial volcanism gives the history of glaciers (Ogrizek Dore, 1952). Evolution of glaciers therefore in Iceland is as a result of sub-glacial outburst which was triggered by sub-glacial eruption. A recent and one of the most renowned sub-glacial eruption occurred in 1996 under the Vatnajoekull glacier. It resulted to an intensive flow of ice-melt water which washed out highways and structures into the sea. The evolution and formation of glaciers in Iceland is connected with interaction of water properties and basalts.
Iceland is one nation that is well known for existence of glaciers because 11.1 of its landscape is covered by glaciers. The largest glaciers in Iceland are found in south and central highlands due to greater precipitation in south than in north. A century ago, glaciers in Iceland were very small but as a result of coldness, the glaciers grew fast. During the early times, traveling across the glaciers was rare but nowadays people travel across glaciers almost daily. There certain characteristics of Iceland glaciers such as moving glacier tongues and thaw-glaciers with a temperature of zero degrees.
Glaciers in Ice land are of great importance because they are the source of water used for purpose of producing electricity. Nearly all types of glaciers are found in Iceland ranging from extensive glacier caps to small cirque glaciers. The small glaciers are called alpine or valley glaciers. Larger masses of ice may cover the whole mountain or volcano and are classified as ice caps. Most glaciers in Iceland are classified as ice caps because they cover thousands of kilometers (Denniston Derek, 2002). The ice caps are classified in to Vatnajokull, Myrdalsjokull, Tindfjallajokull, Langjokull and Eyjafjallajokull glaciers.
How glaciers in Iceland were made
Glaciers in Iceland are formed in high mountains or around the Polar Regions. The formation of glaciers in Iceland is a procedure that occurs in formation of any other glaciers. Three conditions must be met before glaciers form. First, local climate should be cold enough so as to prevent full melt of accumulated winter snow. This is a necessary and conducive climatic condition in Iceland that favors the formation of glaciers. Second, there should be large accumulation of snow. The climate in Iceland which is cold along Polar Regions favors the accumulation of snow. Third, slope of rock surface upon which the glacier flows should be gentle to prevent snow from being blown away.
Formation of glaciers is as a result of temperature change during the summer which makes snow to melt. During winter season, more snow fall piling up and then during the summer season some snow melts and evaporates. The process of glacier formation is known as glaciations and occurs when thick mass of ice forms from recrystallization of snow. In Iceland temperature remain below freezing point after a snowfall. Accumulation of new snow soon begins to change resulting to a process of glacier formation. Evaporation and recondensation of water leads to recrystallization process which forms smaller, spherical and thicker grains of ice.
The recrystallized snow is known as firn. As more and more snow is deposited and recrystallized into a firn, pressure on the underlying spherical grains of ice increases. The thickness of the snow and ice becomes large increasing the weight which makes the firn to grow into large ice crystals. In certain circumstances where melting occurs in the area of snow accumulation, snow is transformed into ice very quickly (Cohen Andrew, 2003). Persistent pressure melting melts the firn at their constant points of conduct producing miniscule amounts of water which recrystallizes in the spaces found in between firn crystals. The process repeats itself continuously until the firn forms a solid mass of interlocking ice crystals with little air. The gentle surface of the rock and gravity then makes the ice crystals to flow in form of a glacier.
Evolution of glaciers in Iceland
The evolution of glaciers in Iceland is associated with volcanic eruptions. A massive volcanic eruption occurred beneath Icelands ice cap which led to floods. The waters washed away a lot of sediments and ice blocks into Atlantic. The elevated parts of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge exposes island above sea level. This makes it possible for Iceland to have a number of volcanoes. The volcanic eruption weakened mountainous regions in Iceland that led to creation of sloppy surface necessary for flow of glaciers.
The evolution of Vatnajoekull which is one of the largest glaciers in Iceland from sub-glacial volcanism gives the history of glaciers (Ogrizek Dore, 1952). Evolution of glaciers therefore in Iceland is as a result of sub-glacial outburst which was triggered by sub-glacial eruption. A recent and one of the most renowned sub-glacial eruption occurred in 1996 under the Vatnajoekull glacier. It resulted to an intensive flow of ice-melt water which washed out highways and structures into the sea. The evolution and formation of glaciers in Iceland is connected with interaction of water properties and basalts.
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