Glacier vs. Ice field?

[KrystaGali]

Are these terms interchangeable? If not, what is the difference?

[Kamloops50]

Are these terms interchangeable? If not, what is the difference?

 

The terms aren't interchangeable.

 

From Wikipedia

 

Ice fields are formed by a large accumulation of snow which, through years of compression and freezing, turns into ice. Due to ice’s susceptibility to gravity, ice fields usually form over large areas that are basins or atop plateaus, thus allowing a continuum of ice to form over the landscape uninterrupted by glacial channels.

 

 

A glacier (US /ˈɡleɪʃər/ or UK /ˈɡlæsiə/) is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight; it forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation (melting and sublimation) over many years, often centuries. Glaciers slowly deform and flow due to stresses induced by their weight, creating crevasses, seracs, and other distinguishing features. They also abrade rock and debris from their substrate to create landforms such as cirques and moraines. Glaciers form only on land and are distinct from the much thinner sea ice and lake ice that form on the surface of bodies of water.

 

 

Many glaciers come from Icefields.

Edited March 15, 2015 by Kamloops50

[brentp]

I'm not an expert, so a slightly simple answer would be;

 

Ice fields are the accumulation of snow within a contained area that is compressed into ice over a very long time. They may spawn glaciers that are the runs or movement of the ice out of the ice field which moves because of its own weigh. The terminus of a glacier typically is either in a lake, ocean, or if smaller, a stream/river.

 

Google 'Harding Ice field' and you will get a wealth of info on this. There are ~40 glaciers in the Kenai area that are spawned from this ice field in the Kenai range.