Quiescent phase
The period in which a surge-type glacier is slow-moving or stagnant. This period is typically decades long in contrast to the surge phase that may last only a few months or years.
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Iceberg Glacier, Axel Heiberg Island. The glacier surface is usually crevasse-free and characterised by the development of deep stream channels and potholes. These features are typical of surge-type glaciers in their quiescent state. Aerial photo J. Alean, 1977. |