Cold Enviroments, Glaciers Flashcards
What is a cold enviroment?
An area which contains cold water, ice and snow
What is a glacier?
A huge mass of ice that moves slowly over land. It forms when there is a build up of snow over a number of years
What’s the input of a glacier?
Snow
What’s the output of a glacier?
Meltwater
What happens to the glacier when the inputs are greater than the outputs?
The glacier grows
What happens to the glacier when the outputs are greater than the inputs?
The glacier shrinks
What two zones are glaciers divided into?
Accumulation zone, ablation zone
What is the accumulation zone?
Where there are inputs into the glacial budget
What is the ablation zone?
Where there are outputs from the glacial budget
What’s a glacial budget?
The balance between the amount of inputs versus outputs affecting the glacial system
Does a glacier advance or retreat in summer?
Retreat
Does a glacier advance or retreat in winter?
Advance
When will accumulation be at its highest?
In winter
When will ablation be at its highest?
In summer
What is the erosional process in glaciers?
Freeze-thaw, plucking, abrasion
