drift

glacial deposit

Also known as: glacial drift

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June 25, 2026

Quick Summary

Glacial drift refers to all types of debris deposited by glaciers or their meltwater. This material, collectively known as glacial drift, can be deposited directly by the ice as till or reworked by meltwater streams into outwash.1

During the Quaternary period, extensive ice sheets advanced into temperate latitudes, leaving a significant imprint on landscapes through glacial sediments and erosion. Glaciers transport debris from accumulation zones to their margins, where melting causes deposition. Till, a mixture of rock fragments and boulders in a fine matrix, is deposited directly by ice and can be classified as lodgment till (compressed under the ice) or melt-out till (deposited as ice melts).21

Meltwater streams deposit outwash, which is typically stratified and sorted by grain size, with larger materials deposited closer to the glacier. These deposits, including moraines, drumlins, eskers, and kames, significantly shape the landforms in formerly glaciated regions.12

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iceberg
Iceberg distribution and drift trajectories
In the Antarctic, a freshly calved iceberg usually begins by moving westward in the Antarctic Coastal Current, with the coastline on its left. Since its trajectory is also turned to the left by the Coriolis force owing to Earth’s rotation, it may run…
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In the Antarctic, a freshly calved iceberg usually begins by moving westward in the Antarctic Coastal Current, with the coastline on its left. Since its trajectory is also turned to the left by the Coriolis force owing to Earth’s rotation, it may run…
Read More

continental landform
Basic concepts and considerations
…Flood accounted for glacial “drift.” Since that time, the Noachian Deluge has lost much of its geomorphic appeal. Yet, sedimentary deposits laid down in ancient inland seas are widely acknowledged to account for much continental bedrock, and they underlie and create vast structural plains in areas such as Australia.
Read More
…Flood accounted for glacial “drift.” Since that time, the Noachian Deluge has lost much of its geomorphic appeal. Yet, sedimentary deposits laid down in ancient inland seas are widely acknowledged to account for much continental bedrock, and they underlie and create vast structural plains in areas such as Australia.
Read More