This textbook covers all important aspects of mountain glaciers, from their formation and their importance as water reservoirs to the threat posed by current global warming. Glaciers themselves can also pose a threat to humans and represent a natural hazard in populated mountain areas in the form of ice avalanches and glacial lake outbursts. In addition, however, they are also important landscape formers and have helped to shape large parts of the present-day relief of the Earth, which is one of the classic fields of work of geomorphology and geology.
In the individual chapters, the current state of research is presented in a comprehensible manner and illustrated with concise examples, photos and graphics.
The book offers a compact introduction for all students of geosciences, curious mountaineers and laymen interested in nature.
Author(s): Wilfried Hagg
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 188
City: Berlin
Acknowledgements
Contents
1: Introduction and History of Research
1.1 Object of Research
1.2 History of Research
References
2: Origin of Glaciers
2.1 Preconditions for Glacier Formation
2.2 Processes Involved
2.2.1 Snowfall
Excursus 2.1: Snow Crystals
2.2.2 Snow Metamorphosis
2.2.3 Densification of the Snow
2.3 Physical Properties of Glacial Ice
References
3: Ice Movement
3.1 Description of the Movement Pattern
3.2 Processes Involved in Ice Movement
3.2.1 Internal Deformation
3.2.2 Basal Sliding
3.2.3 Bed Deformation
3.2.4 Glacier Flow Velocity
3.3 Special Case Surge
3.4 Visible Witnesses of Ice Movement: Crevasses and Ogives
References
4: Mass and Energy Balance of Glaciers
4.1 Glacier Mass Balance
4.1.1 Concept and Components of the Glacier Mass Balance
4.1.2 Methods of Mass Balance Determination
4.1.3 Mass Balance Measurements Worldwide
4.2 Energy Balance of Glacier Surfaces
References
5: Glacier Types and Distribution
5.1 Typification of Glaciers
5.1.1 Typification According to the Source of Nourishment
5.1.2 Morphological Glacier Types
5.1.2.1 Unconstrained Glaciers
5.1.2.2 Constrained Glaciers
5.1.3 Thermal Glacier Types
5.2 Distribution of Glaciers
References
6: Glaciers and Climate
6.1 Climatic Control of Glacier Behaviour
6.2 Glaciers as Climate Indicators
Excursus 6.1: Waiho Loop Moraine
References
7: Glaciers and Water
7.1 Glacial Hydrological Systems
7.1.1 Supraglacial System
7.1.2 Intraglacial System
7.1.3 Subglacial System
7.2 Runoff from Glaciers
References
8: Glacial History
8.1 Methods for the Reconstruction of Glacial History
Excursus 8.1 Radiocarbon Dating
Excursus 8.2 Snow Line Depression
8.2 Glacial Periods
Excursus 8.3 Milanković Cycles
8.2.1 The Older Ice Ages
8.2.2 The Pleistocene
Excursus 8.4 Oxygen Isotope Analysis
8.3 Glacier Evolution in the Holocene
8.4 Current and Future Glacier Retreat
8.5 Consequences of Glacier Retreat
8.5.1 Local Consequences
8.5.2 Regional Consequences
8.5.3 Global Consequences
References
9: Glacial Hazards
9.1 Ice Avalanches
9.1.1 Definition and Classification
9.1.2 Examples
9.1.3 Risk Management
9.2 Glacial Lake Outburst Floods
9.2.1 Classification and Examples
9.2.2 Breakout Mechanisms
9.2.3 Risk Management
References
10: Glacial Erosion
10.1 Erosion Processes in Solid Rock
Excursus 10.1: Abrasion Models
10.2 Erosion Processes in Unconsolidated Rocks
10.3 Erosion Rates
Excursus 10.2: Weathering
10.4 Landforms of Glacial Erosion
References
11: Glacial Sedimentation
11.1 Processes of Glacial Accumulation
11.2 Till
Excursus 11.1: Morphometry of Sediments
11.3 Moraine Types
11.4 Special Forms
11.5 Glaciofluvial Landforms
11.6 The Glacial Series
References
Glossary
Index
