ABSTRACT
The fact that glaciers move is critical to the hydrological cycle, to the functioning of the ocean/atmosphere system, and to all the geological and geomorphological phenomena that arise from glaciation. In all glaciers ice moves from the accumulation area to the ablation area, the motion supplied by input of fresh ice in the accumulation area and drained ultimately by loss of ice in the ablation area. This movement of ice through the glacier is achieved by a variety of mechanisms, which combine to different degrees in different circumstances, so glaciers can behave in a range of different ways. This chapter focuses on the nature of glacier motion and the mechanisms by which driving forces are converted to movement. We are concerned here primarily with horizontal motion. Aspects of the vertical movement of ice are considered in Chapter 5 (regarding basal ice) and Chapter 11 (regarding ice cores).
