mitted to: Dr. Farooq Ahmad itted by: M. Imran M.Se. Part-II Roll #. 11 (ReplicA) Department of Geography iVersity of the RunjabContents Chapter Introduction - Snow line in Pakistan- How a Glacier moves? I, Slope of the Earth IL, Weight of Snow: IIL. Temperature: Important Glaciers of Hunza valley. Kinds of Glaciers i) Valley Glacier: ii) Continental Glacier: Erosional Features Made by Alpine Glaciers Depositional Features Made by Alpine Glaciers Conclusion ReferencesIntroduction The geologic history of Pakistan is very complex in which mountains and other land features came into existence. It is said that the process of formation of mountains and other landforms started from the Upper Eocene to Pl This process is still now going on. But Pleistocene time in Pakistan has much importance because Uplifting of Himalayas did very rapidly and the Pleistocene period or ice age started in Pakistan, especially in Himalayan ranges. karakorams and hindukush ranges. Salt range covered with glaciers in Pleistocene time but in the early of Holocene time, Glaciers began to melt or retreat and now the salt range ieee Plateau covered with glaciers but in Holocene period, they retreated Potwar to Hindnkush ranges. The poty/ar region is an elevated plain which includes Rawalpindi and other parts of Punjab. The Siwalike are comparatively recent formation, comprising of wind blown material and fresh water deposits. These important deposits are dated as early as late Miocene till early middle Pleistocene age. Some areas of Himalayas in which Hunza valley, swaat, Chitral and Bulkistan in south east of Ciachin are very important because in Pleistocene time, Glaciers existed in these valleys. Snow line in Pleistocene time, was about 800 feet but now, itis 18000 feet or more than 4,600 meters abov. co el, Definition of Glacier ‘There are many definitions but most important are follow: 1, According to Flint (1957), “A glacier is a mass of ice and firn or neve formed by recrystallization of snow and melt water which lies entirely or largely on and gives evidence of either present or former movement”. 2. According to A. Das Gupta, “Due to pressure, slope and the pull of gravity this ice begins to move and this, ice stream is known as a glacier” 3. According to Arthur, N. Strahler, “any large natural accumulation of land iodatected by present or past flowage”Snow Line in Pakistan Snow line is defined as: 1. “Phe lower limit of permanent snow is called snow line”. eS . “yh : soo}e BP! Varah e wooo] B =| ij \f ; a ( coco | E vowost snowine p8Y/ = highest Snowhine \ 8) 0 30 3 Howth Degrees Cita JS 2. According to A. S. Harris, “The line or elevation, on which the snow does not melt, during any season, is called snow/fim ine or tree line”. 3. According to A. Das Gupta, “the line above which there is perpetual snow is knowns the snow line”. 30 is about 18,000 feet or In Pleistocne time or ice age, snow line was about 800 feet but now the snow line in pati mote than 4,600 meters above sea level.How a Glacier moves? Here the question rises, how fast do glaciers move? But in general, valley glaciers move more rapidly than continental glaciers, but the rate for both vary, ranging from centimeters to tens of meters per day. Valley glaciers moving down steep slopes flow more rapidly than glaciers of comparable size on gentle slopes, assuming that all other variables are the same. The main glacier in a valley glacier system contains a greater volume of ice and thus has a greater discharge and flow velocity than its tributaries. Flow rates also vary within the ice itself. For example, flow velocity generally increases in the zone of accumulation until the firn limit is reached; from that point, the velocity becomes progressively slower towards the glacier's terminus. Vallpy glaciers are similar to rivers, in that the valley walls and floor cause frictional resistance to flow, so the ice ip/contact with the walls and floor moves more slowly than the ice some distance away. The movement of a glaoier also varies in the different parts of the glacier but it depends upon three parameters: 1, Slope of the earth: 2, Weight of snow: 3. Temperature: 1. Slope of the Earth ‘The speed of motion becomes quicker with steeper slopes and if the slope is gentle, the movement of glacier will be very slow. Flow of a Glacier / 7 ACCUMULATION ZONE = ABLATION ZONE —= cpusBesides it, Gravity of the earth affects the movement of glacier because it pulls or attracts the glacier downward by which the movement of glacier is very fast. 2. Weight of Snow ‘The rate of the speed of glacier depends upon the size of the glacier. The bigger is the gla motion would be greater and if the size of the glacier is less than it will be moved slowly x; the daily rate of Average rate of ablation in Pakistan is 3.25 centimeters in a year. This is the movement of gl slope. Thus, a glacier moves faster in summer when the temperature is near freezing point than i several degrees lower than the freezing point.3. Temperature The speed also varies with the temperature. Lower the temperature, slower is the movement, Maximum ablation starts from May and continues till August and snow falling or the accumulation of snow starts from mid August and it continues approximately March. One thing, which is most important that is duration of day & night because when time or duration of day will be more, temperature will be high and the Earth will receive less sunlight. If the period of night is more, obviously, temperature will be low _ TRANSVERSE SECTIO: Glacial terraces show that climate has changed due to rise in temperature. During third and fourth, we can see sudden changes on the earth's surface due to rise in the temperature and it shows the temperature was more than 48°C and the glacial deposits are found on the earth’s surface during last glaciation, which shows in above diagram,> Important Glaciers of the Hunza Valley There are many glaciers of hunza valley but most important are as under: > Batura glacier > Passu glacier > Hisper glacier > Ultar glacier > Baltoro glacier > Biafo glacier > Baltar glacier i, Batura Glacier Batura glacier is found in Hunza valley, which ™™* is located in Karakoram mountain range. The length of batura glacier is 59 kilometers. ii. Passu Glacier Passu glacier is found in Hunza valley and = itis the important glacier in Pakistan and it is also located in Karakoram mountain range One of the countless glaciers that slowly flows through the Karakoram. Northern Pakistan is second only to the subpolar regions in glacial expanse.iii. Hisper Glacier Hisper is also found in hunza valley that islocated in Karakoram mountains range. The length of hisper is 61 Kilometers, Fig, 1 Lacan map showing Pamariich Glace lcig into the rarthre margin of Hispar Clavier. The arr fdentifies the lation of phtaraphs shown in Figure 2 iv. Ultar Glacier Ultar glacier is found in hunza valley and it has much importance among others.y. Baltore Glacier Baltoro is another glacier that is found in hunza valley and has the more significance among others. vi. Biafo Glacier ‘The name of Biafo is a locally name and it is located in hunza valley. The length of biafo glacier is 62.5 kilometers. Kinds of Glaciers All glaciers share some characteristics, but they also vary in several ways. Some are confined to mountain valleys or bowl-shaped depressions on mountainsides, and flow from higher to lower elevations. Others are of much greater thickness and extent: they flow outward from centers of accumulation and are completely unconfined by topography. Thus, we recognize two basic types of glaciers: valley and continental, and some variations on these basic types. 1. Valley Glaciers: Continental Glaciers: 1. Valley Glaciers A valley glacier, as its name implies, is confined to a mountain valley through which if flows from higher to lower elevations. We use the term valley glacier here, but alpine and mountain glaciers are synonyms. Many valley glaciers have smaller tributary glaciers entering them, just as rivers and streams have tributaries, thus forming a network of glaciers in a system of interconnected valleys. A valley glacier’s shape is obviously controlled by the shape of the valley it occupies, so these glaciers are long, narrow tongues of moving ice. Valley glaciers are invariably small compared to continental glaciers, but even so they may be séVeral kilometers across, 200 km long, and hundreds of meters thick. For instance, the Bering Glacier in Alaska is about 200 km long, and the Saskatchewan Glacier in Canada is 55Smeters thick.