ABSTRACT

The term generally applied to describing the cross-sectional profile of a glacial trough with near-vertical sides and a relatively flat bottom (Figure U.1a and b). In reality, true U-shaped profiles are rare, and open valleys with parabolic cross-sections are more typical of glacially eroded landscapes (see parabolic form). Two well-known glacial troughs with true U-shaped profiles. (a) The Yosemite Valley in California; the granite rock wall of El Capitan is on the left. (b) Lauterbrunnental as seen from the village of Lauterbrunnen, Kanton Bern, Switzerland. The vertical valley sides give rise to several impressive waterfalls, such as Staubbachfall on the right. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781315373157/95d5ad9e-a71d-4f11-a609-2c025b95638b/content/figu_1.jpg"/>