What is a glacier?
Q: What is a glacier?
A: A glacier is a large body of ice and snow.
Q: How does a glacier form?
A: A glacier forms when the snow in an area does not all melt in summer. Each winter, more snow is added. The weight of all the snow creates pressure. This pressure turns the lower parts of the snow into ice.
Q: How does a glacier grow larger?
A: A glacier grows larger after the pressure turns the lower parts of the snow into ice. After this happens for many years, the glacier will start growing large.
Q: How does a glacier move?
A: Gravity causes the ice to move. It flows downwards like water but very slowly.
Q: How fast does a glacier move?
A: A glacier only moves about 50 metres (160 ft) per year.
Q: What do new snowfalls replace?
A: New snowfalls replace the parts of the glacier that flow away.
Q: What are the largest sources of fresh water on Earth?
A: Glaciers are the largest sources of fresh water on Earth. The largest bodies of salt water are the oceans.
