⚙️ how
How do glaciers carve U-shaped valleys?
GeologyGlaciers
Quick Answer
Glaciers erode bedrock by plucking and abrasion as they move downhill. Because ice fills the whole valley, it widens and deepens the floor into a broad U shape.
The Full Story
Valley glaciers are thick enough to behave like slow-moving rivers of ice. As they slide and deform, they scrape the bedrock with embedded rocks and pry loose fractured blocks. Since ice occupies the whole valley rather than just a narrow channel, erosion happens across the floor and sides, producing steep walls and a rounded valley bottom. Classic U-shaped valleys can be seen in places like Yosemite and the Alps.
Key Facts
1.Glaciers erode by abrasion and plucking
2.They widen valleys into U shapes
3.Examples include Yosemite and Alpine valleys
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"Why do glaciers make valleys look so different from rivers do?"