polar glacier

Also known as: cold glacier

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July 1, 2026

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A polar glacier is a type of glacier that exists at or below the freezing point of ice. These glaciers are characterized by their cold temperatures, which affect their movement and erosive capabilities. Unlike temperate glaciers, which slide easily over their beds, polar glaciers move primarily through internal deformation of the ice itself. This results in slower rates of erosion and less dramatic landform creation compared to their temperate counterparts.1

The two largest polar ice masses are the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, which contain about 99% of the world's glacier ice. These massive ice sheets form from the accumulation and compression of snow over many years. Polar glaciers are crucial components of Earth's climate system, and their behavior is closely monitored in relation to global temperature changes.234

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glacial landform
Glacial erosion
The ice in polar, or cold glaciers, in contrast, is below the pressure-melting point. Some glaciers have an intermediate thermal character. For example, subpolar glaciers are temperate in their interior parts, but their margins are cold-based. This classification is a broad generalization, however, because the thermal condition of…
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The ice in polar, or cold glaciers, in contrast, is below the pressure-melting point. Some glaciers have an intermediate thermal character. For example, subpolar glaciers are temperate in their interior parts, but their margins are cold-based. This classification is a broad generalization, however, because the thermal condition of…
Read More