Kalvning

Kalvning is a Swedish term that translates to calving in English. It is used to describe two related but distinct phenomena: the birth of calves in animal husbandry and the fragmentation of glaciers in glaciology.

In animal husbandry, kalvning refers to the birth of a calf. The event follows a gestation of about 280 days in cattle and is typically one calf at a time, though twins can occur. Signs that parturition is approaching include restlessness, changes in vocalizing, udder development, and the leakage of milk. The process is commonly described in stages: first, the onset of labor as the cervix dilates; second, active pushing and the appearance of the calf; and third, delivery of the placenta. Calving usually takes several hours, and many farms monitor the dam and calf during and after birth to assist if needed. After calving, ensuring the calf nurses promptly and that the dam is dry and comfortable reduces the risk of complications such as dystocia or retained placenta.

In glaciology, kalvning denotes the calving of glaciers—the breaking away of chunks of ice from a glacier's terminus, generating icebergs or smaller ice fragments. Calving is a key mechanism of mass loss for many outlet glaciers and is influenced by terminus water depth, ice temperature, buoyancy forces, and crevasse development. Seasonal melt and ocean interaction can promote calving, and in many regions calving rates have increased with recent climate warming. Observations of calving are important for understanding glacier dynamics, sea level contribution, and landscape evolution.