Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#192439 08/12/10 03:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1
A
alely Offline OP
stranger
OP Offline
stranger
A
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1
I don't understand the difference between "drumlin" and "moraine".

alely #192444 08/12/10 07:53 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,933
Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,933
Likes: 3
Hold tight: you'll get an answer.
WELCOME


----please, draw me a sheep----
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 655
addict
Offline
addict
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 655
A drumlin is a teardrop-shaped hill that resulted from a glacier moving over loose ("unconsolidated") soil. It forms from soil under the glacier. The point of the teardrop indicates the direction in which the glacier was moving. You can see a similar thing happen when water moves over uneven sand at the beach (Not ripples in the sand, which are formed at right angles to the water's movement.)

A moraine is rubble that is pushed ahead of the glacier (technically, a terminal moraine) and left there marking the forward edge of the glacier when the glacier retreats. Other, non-terminal moraines are also seen, particlarly when the rubble scoured by the glacier from mountain walls as the glacier moves through a valley is concentrated at or near the longitudinal midline of the glacier and left behind like a track of the glacier as the glacier melts.


"I don't know which is worse: ignorance or apathy. And, frankly, I don't care." - Anonymous
alely #192459 08/13/10 01:48 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Moraine:


Drumlin:

Jackie #192461 08/13/10 02:42 AM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 655
addict
Offline
addict
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 655
Sooo... I could have used 2,000 words?


"I don't know which is worse: ignorance or apathy. And, frankly, I don't care." - Anonymous
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
I just thought alely might be a visual learner like I am.

Jackie #192530 08/15/10 12:49 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
I suspect that the main difference is that a moraine is laid down by the glacier from things that it brought along with it, whereas a drumlin is carved out of stuff that's already there.

Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 655
addict
Offline
addict
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 655
Correct. Moraines are transported debris, whereas drumlins are deformed substrate. There is a third term for material that becomes incorporated in the glacier itself as the glacier forms and is left behind in a random pattern as the glacier melts. I don't recall the term. These are typically isolated boulders, but may include animal bones, etc.

@Jackie: I was being self deprecating. I tend to blab.


"I don't know which is worse: ignorance or apathy. And, frankly, I don't care." - Anonymous
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
I tend to blab. Au contraire, Pierre -- that your explanations were so good is why I posted none with the pics. Kind of complementary. smile

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3
stranger
Offline
stranger
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3
Material incorporated into the glacier is entrained debris. When it is left behind, the general term is "till" (which also applies to moraines). Material that is transported by glacial meltwater is "outwash." Geology has a poetic and interesting terminology. One of my favorite reads is John McPhee's book series "Annals of the Former World," which celebrates the language of geology, as well as the science.

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,933
Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,933
Likes: 3



WELCOME


----please, draw me a sheep----
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
John McPhee writes so well about so many disparate topics!

Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,614
Members9,187
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Karin, JeffMackwood, artguitar, Jim_W, Rdbuffalo
9,187 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 148 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,735
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,933
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5