Which statement about alpine glaciers is true?

• A. They are larger ice sheets covering continents.
• B. They are found only in Antarctica.
• C. They do not move.
• D. They are glaciers confined to mountain regions, with snow accumulating in cirques and ice that flows plastically.

Answer: (D)

Alpine glaciers are glaciers confined to mountain regions where snow accumulates in high cirques and the accumulated ice flows downslope under gravity. This flow happens as the ice deforms plastically and, at the base, can slide, allowing the glacier to move and carve the landscape. They are smaller than continental ice sheets and are not found only in Antarctica; they occur in many mountain ranges around the world. Because they move and reshape valleys, these glaciers are active features rather than static, reinforcing that the description of alpine glaciers as confined to mountains with cirque-accumulated snow and flowing ice is the true statement.