Final answer:
A valley glacier is a type of glacier found in mountainous regions, flowing between valleys and creating U-shaped valleys through erosion. They are dynamic systems, influenced by historical climatic events and shaped by temperature and precipitation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of glacier that occupies valleys in mountainous terrain, particularly at high altitudes, is known as a valley glacier. A valley glacier typically begins at a cirque at the head of a valley or in a plateau ice cap and flows downward between the walls of the valley.
This process of erosion by the glacier results in the creation of characteristic U-shaped valleys. Glaciers, like those in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA, are dynamic bodies of ice that are able to move due to their mass and the force of gravity.
Glaciers play a significant role in shaping the landscape by transporting rocks and debris across great distances and leaving behind moraines, which are evidence of their past presence and movement. Mountain glaciers have been heavily influenced by historical climatic events such as the Little Ice Age, and their existence and size vary depending on environmental conditions, particularly temperature and precipitation levels.
These glacial features contribute to the diversity of landscapes and ecological systems found within mountainous regions.