Growing yearsĪ glacier forms when snow accumulates over time, turns to ice, and begins to flow outwards and downwards under the pressure of its own weight.
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For instance, in very dry parts of Antarctica, low temperatures are ideal for glacier growth, but the small amount of net annual precipitation causes the glaciers to grow very slowly, or even to disappear due to sublimation. The amount of precipitation, whether in the form of snowfall, freezing rain, avalanches, or wind-drifted snow, is important to glacier survival. Boulder, Colorado USA: National Snow and Ice Data Center. LeConte Glacier: From the Glacier Photograph Collection. Since the late 19th century, when the glacier was named after biologist Joseph LeConte, it has retreated about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles). Digital media." width="220" />LeConte Glacier flows into a bay on the coast of Alaska. Such conditions typically prevail in polar and high alpine regions.
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These conditions ensure that the snow that accumulates in the winter is not lost during the summer. Most are found in regions of high snowfall in winter and cool temperatures in summer. Glaciers require very specific climatic conditions. Australia does not have any glaciers however, it is considered part of Oceania, which includes several Pacific island chains and the large islands of Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.
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Most of the world’s glaciers are found near the poles, but glaciers exist on all of the world’s continents, even Africa.