1. Ice age studies

Question 1

What is called the birth of glacial theory?

Answer 1

lecture by Louis Agassiz, 1837

erratics transported by glaciers

Question 2

Hvad er rækkefølgen af glaciationer?

Answer 2

Ældst til yngst:

M: Cromerian
I: Elsterian
M: Holsteinian
I: Saalian
M: Eemian
I: Weichselian (most in DK comes from this)
M: Holocene

Question 3

What is the difference between a till and a tillite?

Answer 3

Till = most common glacial deposit; consists of multiple stones with different origins

Tillite = till as a stone

Question 4

3 criteria for the formation of glaciers

Answer 4

Low temperatures (snow from last winter does not melt)

Sufficient snowfall

Favourable relief (lee-side accumulation in depression)

Question 5

What is firn?

Answer 5

old snow from previous year

Question 6

How does continental ice sheets form?

Answer 6

1) Highland origin. Cirque glacier → valley glacier → piedmont glaciers → ice sheet

2) Instantaneous glaciation

Question 7

What is the difference between isostasy and eustasy?

Answer 7

Isostasy = local
Eustasy = global, faster

Question 8

How much of a glacier is sediments?

Answer 8

Very little of a glacier is actually sediments

The bottom part (up to about 20m) is heavily loaded with materials (20% volume of materials)

Further up, there is basically no materials (way less than 1%)

The surface of the ice has an increase in sediments