Niche Glacier Niche glaciers are dictated by rock benches either on mountainsides or in valleys.  Niche glaciers have movement that is driven by gravitational forces and leads to internal deformation and basal slipping.
Ice Apron Ice aprons are the smallest classified ice masses.  They are small accumulations of snow and ice that reside on the side of mountains.  Ice aprons have ice movement in the form of internal deformation and basal slip.  This movement is driven by gravity and is what draws the line between large snow patches and ice aprons.
Ice Fringe Ice fringes are small masses of ice and snow that occupy small depressions along coasts.  They are similar to ice aprons, only they have a marine setting.
Ice Rise Ice rises are created by grounded ice that has surface snow accumulation.  The centrally grounded ice leads to a radial flow pattern.
Sea-Ice Shelf Sea-ice shelves grow due to both, freezing of sea water underneath the shelf and surficial snow accumulation.  As ice is added on at the base of the shelf, it rises to reach a floating equilibrium.  For a sea-ice shelf to exist the annual temperatures must be cold enough to freeze sea water.  Another requirement for formation of sea-ice shelves is to have anchor points to keep the ice from floating away. 

 
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