What makes a glacier different from an ice cube or ice in a hockey rink?
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USGS Frequently Asked Questions
Question:
What makes a glacier different from an ice cube or ice in a hockey rink?
Answer:
A glacier must:
be formed from natural atmospheric precipitation (snow)
move by internal deformation due to its own weight
NOTE: these criteria exclude "aufeis" which is the technical term for the
"glaciering" or "icing" that form during winter where emerging ground
water freezes, often encroaching onto highways and trails.
