Final answer:
Glaciers cause various Earth processes like glacial erosion, deposition of sediments, formation of landscapes through glacial meltwater, and they are key indicators of climate change.
Step-by-step explanation:
Glaciers have played a substantial role in shaping Earth's physical environment. The processes attributed to glacial activity include:
Glacial Erosion: Glaciers grind over the Earth’s surface and carry away the eroded material, which can drastically alter landscapes by eliminating existing soils and creating new topographies.
Deposition of Glacial Sediments: As glaciers retreat, they deposit materials ranging from sands to clays, contributing to the formation of new soils.
Glacial Meltwater: Meltwater from glaciers is essential for the creation of certain landscapes, like the teal lakes in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park, Montana. Also, the pressures beneath glaciers cause partial melting that provides lubrication, assisting in glacial movements.
Climate Change Indicators: Retreat of glaciers is a significant sign of climate change. For instance, Glacier National Park has experienced a substantial reduction in the number of its glaciers, signaling global warming.
Moreover, glaciers have historically been implicated in massive environmental shifts, such as the Little Ice Age, which drastically altered global temperatures and precipitation patterns, indirectly causing famines and droughts.