Glacial Erosional Processes and Landforms

Glacial erosional processes include abrasion, plucking, and physical and chemical erosion by glacial meltwater. Rates of glacial erosion range from 10 −4 to 10 1 mm year −1 and glaciers are one of the most effective erosional agents in the earth‐surface system. Glacial erosion produces both small‐scale landforms, for example, striations, grooves, and chatter marks, and classic large‐scale landforms such as U‐shaped valleys and fjords. At the landscape scale, patterns of erosion are linked to subglacial temperature conditions under glaciers or ice sheets. Warm‐based areas have high erosion rates and leave behind well‐developed glacial landscapes while areas of cold‐based ice have negligible erosion rates and leave behind poorly developed glacial landforms.