Bergschrund

Bergschrund

A bergschrund is a crevasse that forms where the moving glacier ice separates from the stagnant ice above. It is often a serious obstacle for mountaineers, who sometimes abbreviate "bergschrund" to "'schrund".

In a corrie or cirque, the bergschrund is positioned at the rear, parallel to the back wall of the corrie. It is caused by the rotational movement of the glacier. In a longitudinal glacier, the bergschrund is at the top end of the glacier at a right angle to the flow of the glacier. It is caused by the downwards flow of the glacier.

Bergschrunds extend to the bedrock and can have a depth of well over 100 metres.

In winter, bergschrunds are often filled by snow from avalanches from the mountain above it. In later summer, due to melting, it lies open and can present a very difficult obstacle to alpinists.

The bergschrund is distinct from the randkluft (also called rimaye) which is the crevasse of which one face is the rock, back wall of the corrie. The randkluft arises in part from the melting of the ice arising from the presence of the warmer rock face. (Benn & Evans). However, the randkluft is sometimes called a bergschrund. (OED)

References

* Benn, D.I. & Evans, D.J.A. "Glaciers and Glaciation" (1998) ISBN 0-340-58431-9
* Burchfield, R.W. ed. "Oxford English Dictionary supplement" (1987) ISBN 0-19-861211-7

External links

* [http://nsidc.org/glaciers/glossary/bergschrund.html Glaciers glossary]


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  • Bergschrund — an der Schnapfenspitze, Silvretta Der Bergschrund ist die Spalte zwischen fließendem Eis eines Gletschers und dem nicht fließenden Eis, das am Fels festgefroren ist. Ein solcher Bergschrund kann sich unterhalb von Graten und Wänden bilden, die… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Bergschrund — Berg schrund , n. [G., lit., mountain gap.] (Phys. Geog.) The crevasse or series of crevasses, usually deep and often broad, frequently occurring near the head of a mountain glacier, about where the n[ e]v[ e] field joins the valley portion of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bergschrund — [berk′shroont, bʉrg′shroond] n. a type of glacial crevasse that separates the moving ice and snow from the snowfield at the top of a mountain valley …   English World dictionary

  • bergschrund — /berk shroont/, n. a crevasse, or series of crevasses, at the upper end of a mountain glacier. [1835 45; < G (Berg mountain + Schrunde crevice)] * * * ▪ geology       (German: “mountain crevice”), a crevasse or series of crevasses often found… …   Universalium

  • Bergschrund — Bẹrg|schrund, der: Spalte am oberen Rand eines Gletschers. * * * Bergschrund,   Spalte zwischen bewegtem Gletschereis und dem am Fels festgefrorenen Eis. (Randkluft) * * * Bẹrg|schrund, der: Spalte am oberen Rand eines Gletschers …   Universal-Lexikon

  • bergschrund —   a large crevasse at the upper portion of a corrie glacier, close to the back wall …   Geography glossary

  • bergschrund — n. gap or sequenceof crevasses at the topmost end of a mountain glacier …   English contemporary dictionary

  • bergschrund — [ bə:gʃrʊnd] noun a crevasse at the head of a glacier. Origin C19: from Ger., from Berg mountain + Schrund crevice …   English new terms dictionary

  • bergschrund — berg·schrund …   English syllables

  • bergschrund — n. a crevasse or gap at the head of a glacier or neacuteveacute. Etymology: G …   Useful english dictionary

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