Glacial Sedimentology

Glacial erosion is the process by which glaciers erode and transport sediment. This can occur through a variety of mechanisms, including abrasion, plucking, and quarrying.

Loess is a type of wind-blown sediment, not a glacial deposit. Till, outwash, and drumlins are all types of glacial deposits.

A drumlin is a long, narrow ridge of glacial till that is typically aligned with the direction of ice flow. Eskers, moraines, and kames are all other types of glacial deposits.

Ground moraine is a type of glacial till that is deposited beneath a glacier. Terminal, lateral, and medial moraines are all types of moraines that are formed at the edge of a glacier.

A kame is a hill or mound of glacial till that is deposited at the edge of a glacier. Eskers, drumlins, and moraines are all other types of glacial deposits.

A fjord is a long, narrow inlet of the sea that is surrounded by high cliffs. Fjords are not glacial landforms, but are instead formed by the erosion of coastal areas by glaciers.

A cirque is a steep-sided, bowl-shaped depression in a mountain that is formed by glacial erosion. Arêtes, horns, and paternoster lakes are all other types of glacial landforms.

Loess is a type of wind-blown sediment, not a glacial sediment. Till, outwash, and sandur are all types of glacial sediments.

A sandur is a broad, flat plain that is formed by the deposition of glacial outwash. Eskers, drumlins, and moraines are all other types of glacial deposits.

A nunatak is a mountain or hill that projects above the surface of a glacier. Crevasses, seracs, and icefalls are all other types of glacial features.

A crevasse is a deep crack in a glacier. Seracs, icefalls, and bergschrunds are all other types of glacial features.

An ice cap is a dome-shaped mass of ice that covers a large area of land. Alpine glaciers, continental glaciers, and piedmont glaciers are all other types of glaciers.

An alpine glacier is a glacier that flows down a mountain valley. Continental glaciers, piedmont glaciers, and ice caps are all other types of glaciers.

Ablation is the process by which glaciers lose mass through melting, sublimation, and calving. Erosion, transportation, and deposition are all other types of glacial processes.

Ablation is the process by which glaciers melt and lose mass. Erosion, transportation, and deposition are all other types of glacial processes.