An episodic, short-lived phase in which a glacier's flow speed increases dramatically, for a period of months to a few years, before abruptly slowing again, distinct from the ordinary, comparatively steady advance and retreat most glaciers show. Surges are thought to result from changes in the meltwater drainage system at a glacier's base that suddenly reduce basal friction, and affect only a minority of the world's glaciers, concentrated in specific regions such as Alaska, the Karakoram and Svalbard.
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1. Glacier Surge (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationIntroductionQuote, Introduction
Glacial surges are short-lived events where the flow velocity on a portion of a glacier can increase to up to 100 times faster than normal during a few months or years.
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