Glaciers

Name: _________________________________       Date: _____________

Much of the landscape of the northern United States was carved out by glaciers. You'll find out all about glaciers in this Planet Diary activity. You'll also have a chance to make a virtual glacier grow or shrink.

1. Go to Glaciers at the University of Kentucky. Read the Introduction. Describe how glaciers shape the landscape.
2. What is the key to building glaciers?
3. Describe the extent of glaciers 18,000 years ago.
4. What is happening to glaciers worldwide from climate change?
5. Click Overview and read Types of Glaciers. What are alpine glaciers?
6. Select the other types of glaciers from the menu at the bottom. What's the difference between an ice cap and an ice sheet?
7. Click to advance to 2: Anatomy of Glaciers. Read How Do Glaciers Form? What's the simple answer to this question?
8. Click Model to experiment with making the glacier grow or shrink by changing the temperature and precipitation controls. Describe what happens when you change temperature and precipitation.