jääerosiooni

Jääerosioon is the Finnish term for glacial erosion. It refers to the process by which glaciers wear away land. This happens in several ways. As a glacier moves, the ice grinds against the bedrock beneath it. Rocks and sediment embedded in the ice act like sandpaper, scraping and abrading the rock. This process is called abrasion. Glaciers also exert significant force, which can break off pieces of rock. This is known as plucking or quarrying.

Over long periods, glacial erosion can dramatically reshape landscapes. It carves out U-shaped valleys, deep fjords, and large basins that can later fill with water to form lakes. Features like cirques, which are bowl-shaped depressions at the head of a valley, and arêtes, which are sharp, knife-like ridges, are also products of glacial erosion. Moraines, which are ridges of till deposited by a glacier, are evidence of glacial activity, though they are depositional rather than erosional features themselves. The material removed by glaciers, known as glacial till, is transported and can be deposited elsewhere, contributing to landform creation in different areas. Understanding jääerosioon is crucial for interpreting past climates and geological histories, as the landforms created by glaciers are distinctive and long-lasting.