Explain how the front of a glacier can move upslope in a ...

[gbarreiro]

Explain how the front of a glacier can move upslope in a retreating valley glacier if the ice is continually moving downslope.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What is a glacier? What features distinguish the three types of glaciers?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[flannelavenger]

Answer to Question 1

Ice always flows from the zone of accumulation to the zone of wastage, but if more ice melts, or calves off in icebergs, than forms from accumulated snow, then the overall length of the glacier decreases and the front retreats upvalley.

Answer to Question 2

A glacier is an accumulation of snow and ice that is thick enough to flow under its own weight. A valley glacier is confined within a bedrock valley and is consequently long and narrow. Glaciers not confined within a bedrock valley are classified by size. Unconfined glaciers that cover an area larger than 50,000 square kilometers are ice sheets, whereas smaller examples are ice caps.