Glacial Ice Conditions

By: Jack L,. McSherry, III

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A glacier is a living, flowing river of ice, which carves  the valley

between the mountians. It is, actually, a condition, of the Earth's surface still

forming. The top layer of a glacier is covered with new snow and the

inside structure and bottom is dense ice. Soil and rock removed from the

mountain is also carried along in the flow.

 

 

Blue ice exists when the density of the ice is great, and the air has been force out by great pressures.

 

As the river of ice flows forward to the end of the glacier, pieces begin to fall away, into

a conventional body of water, such as a bay or an inlet. This process is called "calving".

The broken piece becomes an iceberg.

 

Many small icebergs together are called "pack ice". Their movement is controlled by the water

current and the wind. In cold weather they may freeze together.The open areas in between

are called "leads". With an ice shift these leads can close with enomous pressure.

A clear danger to navigation.

 

As an iceberg melts it will topple over to maintain it's equalibrium. Here the dense blue ice is

exposed to the air. It appears clear and much like blue crystal. The white ice in the foreground,

was on the top of the iceberg, and has absorbed air.

 

This iceberg has toppled over, and although still has a slight blueish tint,

it is quickly becoming the more familiar clear crystal condition.

 

 Christina McSherry with a piece of glacial ice recovered

from the water in it's common clear crystal state.

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