The opening of deep, often near-vertical fractures in the brittle upper layer of a glacier as it flows over uneven bedrock, around a bend, or through zones of extending flow that stretch the ice faster than it can deform plastically. Crevasses can reach tens of metres deep, are frequently hidden by a thin snow bridge that makes them a serious hazard to travel on glaciated terrain, and typically close again as the ice moves into a zone of compression further downstream.
Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.
View At A Past Year
The atlas records no dated fact of its own for this entry, so there is no other year to choose.