What are the effects of glacial erosion?

Historic photograph of the Matterhorn, Switzerland, 1894 The Matterhorn in Switzerland was carved away by glacial erosion. Zmutt Glacier occupies the large cirque on the west face of the mountain, and to the far left, a hanging glacier clings precariously to the side of the peak. —Credit: Photograph by Harry Fielding Reid. read more

Theories suggest that drumlins might have been formed as glaciers scraped up sediment from the underlying ground surface, or from erosion or deposition of sediment by glacial meltwater, or some combination of these processes. read more

The Effect of Ice Age Glaciers: Formation of Pluvial Lakes. Ice age glaciers caused erosion and deposition, which resulted in unique features such as horns, cirques, lakes, U-shaped valleys, moraines and drumlins. Indirect effects include pluvial lakes, isostatic depression and a change in sea level. read more

Glacial erosion can also create a roche moutonnee, which is a mass of rocks carved by a passing glacier. The rock formation has a smooth, rounded side caused by abrasion and a steep, ragged side where rocks were plucked from the surface. read more