Alpine Glaciers

Alpine glaciers are large masses of ice that form in mountainous regions where snow accumulates over time. As the snow compacts and turns into ice, gravity pulls it down the slopes, creating slow-moving rivers of ice. These glaciers carve out valleys and shape the landscape, leaving behind distinct features like U-shaped valleys, cirques, and moraines. They play a crucial role in the Earth's climate system and water supply by melting and providing freshwater to rivers and lakes. Monitoring alpine glaciers helps scientists understand climate change and its impacts on the environment.