4.1 Glaciated Landscapes And The Glacial System Flashcards
Landscapes and systems
What is a glaciated landscape?
A landscape which is distinctive in that its characteristics are exclusively linked to glaciation
What is in the foreground?
An active glacier
Example of an active glacier?
Mer de glace, France.
Is there vegetation in the foreground?
- trees
- some traces of vegetation beginning to take hold of side valleys
What is a glacial system?
This is where several components integrate to function as a system.
Inputs in a glacial system
- snow
- avalanches
Outputs
- liquid water - melting of ice close to snout
- calving
- sublimation
- evaporation
What is calving?
Huge chunks of ice break off to form icebergs.
When a glaciers mass is combined with the force of gravity what energy is generated?
Potential energy
What is the potential energy converted into to carry the glacier?
Kinetic energy
What processes are carries out as a result of movement from kinetic energy?
- erosion
- transportation
- deposition
What is the main store in a glacial system?
- snow
- ice
How often does variation in magnitude occur?
Seasonally
Which regions are seasonal variations in magnitude most common in?
Temperate regions
Over how many years have the stores of many world glaciers shown a decline in mass?
30
why has there been a decrease in glacier mass?
- recent trends in climate change
- and global warming
what do flows/transfers include?
- evaporation
- sublimation
- melt water flow
- processes of glacial movement: internal deformation and basal sliding
where are flows and transfers more active?
warmer environments where there are significant seasonal variations in temperature.
where are flows and transfer less active?
- coldest environments
- e.g. Greenland
dynamic equilibrium
found in a glacial system - an equilibrium line can be drawn on the boundary line of the accumulation zone (input zone) and the ablation zone (output zone).
how is the equilibrium line balanced?
as the balance shifts, the equilibrium line will move up or down the glacier, hence the term ‘dynamic’ equilibrium.
