Glaciology

Glaciology is a scientific field that studies all aspects of ice on landmasses. It examines the structure and properties of glacier ice, as well as its production and distribution, ice flow dynamics, and ice accumulation-climate interactions. Glaciological study is carried out using a range of techniques. Radar sounding is used to study the internal structure of glaciers, and the deformation of vertical boreholes or lateral tunnels bored into the ice is used to monitor glacier movement. Remote sensing data is used to estimate ice accumulation over wide areas, and oxygen isotope ratios are typically used to distinguish the distinct annual layers in glacier ice. Glaciers and ice sheets store water in frozen form during cold and overcast seasons and progressively release it during bright, hot periods when liquid water is most needed downstream. Glaciers hold and release massive amounts of water in non-ideal situations. Glaciologists have faced a hard task in cataloguing the world's glacier distribution, defining their state and dynamics, and measuring basic glaciological metrics like length and area. The discovery of water ice on the Moon, Mars, Europa, and Pluto gives the field of "astroglaciology" an alien dimension.

Sub-tracks:

•     Glacier science and glaciology
•     Glaciers and climate change
•     Glaciers, hydraulic and sedimentary processes
•     Glacier composition, mechanics and dynamics
•     The cryosphere and hydrology
•     Ocean–cryosphere interactions
•     The Greenland Ice Sheet
•     The Antarctic Ice Sheet
•     Climate and Earth-system modelling
•     Humans and the cryosphere
•     Anthropocene
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