The Tidewater Glacier Cycle (IMAGE) University of Alaska Fairbanks Caption Illustration by Meghan Murphy This illustration shows a tidewater glacier slowly advancing on a sediment pile. The melting glacier terminus eventually begins to erode the sediment pile. That undercuts the ice's support and triggers a rapid collapse, in a process explained by a new model developed by a University of Alaska Fairbanks researcher. Credit Illustration by Meghan Murphy Usage Restrictions Please credit person who created illustration. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.