Transport by Glaciers

Glaciers are the moving ice bodies toward the downslope. The moving bulges of the ice also cause transportation of other material present on the earth’s surface. The process of moving rocks and debris along with the glacier’s movement is known as the Transportation caused by glaciers. Glaciers squire a huge amount of rock debris by plucking, Abrasion, and frost wedging. This material is transported in three ways.

(i) Super Glacial Load:

A moving glacier causes erosion of the bases of the valley walls, causing land/debris sliding. The slide debris falls on the moving glaciers. This debris and rocks are transported by the moving glacier. This transportation is known as the Super Glacial Load.

(ii) Englacial Load:

Sooner or later a part of the debris is engulfed into crevasses. The debris mixed with ice is also shifted to downslope, depending on the movement of the glaciers.

(iii) Subglacial Load.

The debris present at the bottom of the glacier, which is called Snout/ subglacial load. The subglacial load includes the material plucked from the rocky floor and a portion of the debris that reaches the base from above. By the movement of the glaciers, the subglacial debris is also moved along with the glaciers.