Majority of glaciers do not move very fast. Most only move around one foot a day. Though some have been known to move as much as 50 feet in one day. Not all the glacier moves at one time. The glacier is split into 3 layers and each moves a different pace. The bottom layer moves the slowest, being as it glides against the ground. As for the top two layers, they move faster, being as they are gliding on ice. The way scientists measure the speed of a glacier, is by pounding stakes into different positions in the glaciers, and watching how fast, or slow, they move.
How fast the glacier moves also depends on on its environment, and the glacier itself. Where glaciers in New Zealand only move around one meter a day, other glaciers, called surging glaciers can move much more rapidly. Some surging glaciers can move around 333 feet in one day. Sadly though, due to global climate change, rising temperatures are effecting weather patterns that usually allow ice and snow build up. Many glaciers are receding now much faster than they are advancing.
Glacier Cool Fact! The fastest Glacier movement recorded in one day is Quarayaq Glacier. It moved 80 feet in one day! It is currently located in Greenland.
How Fast Do Glaciers Move?
Majority of glaciers do not move very fast. Most only move around one foot a day. Though some have been known to move as much as 50 feet in one day. Not all the glacier moves at one time. The glacier is split into 3 layers and each moves a different pace. The bottom layer moves the slowest, being as it glides against the ground. As for the top two layers, they move faster, being as they are gliding on ice. The way scientists measure the speed of a glacier, is by pounding stakes into different positions in the glaciers, and watching how fast, or slow, they move.
How fast the glacier moves also depends on on its environment, and the glacier itself. Where glaciers in New Zealand only move around one meter a day, other glaciers, called surging glaciers can move much more rapidly. Some surging glaciers can move around 333 feet in one day. Sadly though, due to global climate change, rising temperatures are effecting weather patterns that usually allow ice and snow build up. Many glaciers are receding now much faster than they are advancing.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ6_0Jzgigc//How fast do glaciers move//? | GreenAnswers
Glacier Cool Fact!
The fastest Glacier movement recorded in one day is Quarayaq Glacier. It moved 80 feet in one day! It is currently located in Greenland.