Drumlin Formation Software Download
The length of a drumlin varies from location to location, and this reflects the differences in the materials that make up the ice cover. While the eastern U.S. and Ireland have predominantly sandy materials, North Dakota has a substrate that is mostly clay, allowing for longer ridges to form. Although the different materials create a unique environment, the forces that shaped the ice cover are similar in both cases.
Despite the difficulty of observing drumlin formation, many researchers have made progress toward developing a general theory. A good theory should explain both the wide range of observed bedforms and the wide variation of internal composition. Many hypotheses have been put forward to explain drumlin formation, but Patterson and Hooke offer good overviews of the problem. A simple explanation is most likely to include a combination of rock and ice-rock deposition.
The internal structure of a drumlin varies as well. Some are rounded and have a blunt end pointing up-ice, while others are elongated tears with a snout pointing down-ice. The internal structure of a drumlin varies from stratified sand to solid bedrock, and can be a mixture of these. It is also possible to find a core made of laminated clay, boulders, or stratified bedding.
A drumlin is a landform that was formed several thousand years ago, when large continental ice sheets were creeping across the landscape. Today, they are widespread in northern Europe, and can be found in areas such as upstate New York, eastern Massachusetts, and Wisconsin. In some areas, they are covered with prairie or wetlands. They are often regarded as a remnant of the last Wisconsin Ice Age. The history and evolution of the drumlin reveals the origins of a glacial ice sheet.