glacial hypothesis

1 definition found

glacial hypothesis - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Glacial \Gla"cial\, a. [L. glacialis, from glacies ice: cf. F.
     glacial.]
     1. Pertaining to ice or to its action; consisting of ice;
        frozen; icy; esp., pertaining to glaciers; as, glacial
        phenomena. --Lyell.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Chem.) Resembling ice; having the appearance and
        consistency of ice; -- said of certain solid compounds;
        as, glacial phosphoric or acetic acids.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Glacial acid (Chem.), an acid of such strength or purity as
        to crystallize at an ordinary temperature, in an icelike
        form; as acetic or carbolic acid.
  
     Glacial drift (Geol.), earth and rocks which have been
        transported by moving ice, land ice, or icebergs; bowlder
        drift.
  
     Glacial epoch or Glacial period (Geol.), a period during
        which the climate of the modern temperate regions was
        polar, and ice covered large portions of the northern
        hemisphere to the mountain tops.
  
     Glacial theory or Glacial hypothesis. (Geol.) See
        Glacier theory, under Glacier.
        [1913 Webster]