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Science Olympiad: dynamic planet glacier competition
Glaciers
Large masses of ice that form from the accumulation and compaction of snow over time and flow under their weight.
Ice Sheets
Massive, continent-sized glaciers covering areas larger than 50,000 km²; only two exist today: Greenland Ice Sheet and Antarctic Ice Sheet.
Accumulation zone
Area where snowfall adds to the glacier.
Ablation zone
Area where ice is lost through melting, sublimation, or calving.
Equilibrium line
Boundary where accumulation equals ablation.
Basal sliding
Movement at the glacier's base, often lubricated by meltwater.
Internal deformation
Flow within the ice due to pressure differences.
Crevasses
Cracks on the surface caused by differential flow rates.
Cirques
Bowl-shaped depressions at the heads of glaciers.
Arêtes
Sharp ridges formed between two cirques.
Horns
Sharp mountain peaks sculpted by glaciers.
Moraines
Ridges of debris deposited by glaciers, including types such as lateral and terminal.
Esker
Sinuous ridges formed by sediment deposition in subglacial streams.
Drumlins
Elongated hills formed beneath glaciers, indicating ice flow direction.
Albedo Effect
Ice reflects solar radiation, cooling the Earth.
Positive mass balance
Condition when a glacier gains ice and grows.
Negative mass balance
Condition when a glacier loses ice and shrinks.
Plucking
Process where glaciers pull chunks of rock from the ground.
Abrasion
Process where rocks embedded in the glacier scrape against bedrock.
Remote Sensing
Using satellites to monitor ice sheet extent, thickness, and velocity.
Greenland Ice Sheet
Rapidly losing ice, significantly contributing to sea level rise.
Antarctic Ice Sheet
Divided into East (larger, more stable) and West (smaller, more vulnerable) sections.
