Dynamic Planet Flashcards
What is a glacier?
A glacier is a large mass of ice that forms from compacted snow and moves slowly over land.
True or False: Glaciers can only be found in polar regions.
False
What are the two main types of glaciers?
The two main types of glaciers are alpine glaciers and continental glaciers.
Fill in the blank: Glaciers are formed from __________.
snow
What process leads to the movement of glaciers?
Gravity causes glaciers to flow downhill.
Multiple choice: Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of glaciers? A) They flow B) They are made of liquid water C) They can carve landscapes
B) They are made of liquid water
What is the term for the area where a glacier accumulates snow?
The accumulation zone.
True or False: Glaciers can be found on every continent.
True
What is the name of the process by which glaciers erode the landscape?
Glacial erosion.
Fill in the blank: The _______ is the part of the glacier where ice melts and there is a net loss of mass.
Ablation zone
What is the term for the movement of a glacier sliding over its base?
Basal sliding.
Multiple choice: What is a common result of glacial erosion? A) Formation of valleys B) Creation of deserts C) Increase in ocean levels
A) Formation of valleys
What is a moraine?
A moraine is an accumulation of dirt and rocks that have been pushed along by a glacier.
True or False: Glaciers can contribute to sea level rise when they melt.
True
What is the term used for the measurement of a glacier’s mass balance?
Glacier mass balance.
Fill in the blank: The __________ effect refers to the warming of the climate causing glaciers to melt.
greenhouse
What is calving in relation to glaciers?
Calving is the process where chunks of ice break off from the edge of a glacier.
Multiple choice: Which of the following is a consequence of glacial retreat? A) Habitat loss B) Increased biodiversity C) Stable sea levels
A) Habitat loss
What are icebergs?
Icebergs are large pieces of freshwater ice that have broken off from glaciers and float in oceans.
True or False: Glaciers are primarily composed of freshwater.
True
What is the term for a glacier that flows into the sea?
Tidewater glacier.
Fill in the blank: __________ are formed when glaciers carve out deep valleys.
U-shaped valleys
What is the primary driver of glacier formation?
Cold temperatures and sufficient snowfall.
Multiple choice: Which factor does NOT influence glacier movement? A) Temperature B) Time of year C) Local land use
C) Local land use
What is the significance of studying glaciers?
Studying glaciers helps understand climate change, water resources, and past environmental conditions.
True or False: All glaciers are retreating due to climate change.
False
Which of the following are not erosional landscapes in a glacial environment? A) Aretes, B) Moraines, C) U-Shaped Valleys, or D) Hanging Valleys?
B. Moraines are a depositional glacial landform, not an erosional one.
What are the two types of glacial landforms?
Erosional and Depositional
How much of the Earth’s surface do glaciers cover in the present day?
3% of Earth’s surface is covered by glaciers.
What is a Alpine glacier?
An Alpine glacier is a glacier that is confined by surrounding mountain terrain.
Alpine glaciers can be found in a cirque in a mountain. True or false?
True- As long as the Alpine glacier is in a mountainous environment.
What is firn?
Firn is snow that has not yet been compressed into ice. Firn is also snow that has survived a whole year ( or more) of not melting. Firn is right above glacial ice and as more snow accumulates on it, the firn turns into ice.
How do you know when firn turns into ice?
Firn will turn into ice if the air between the ice grains are sealed off and/or become bubbles.
Why does basal sliding happen?
Basal sliding happens when the base of the glacier has a thin layer of water below it, causing the glacier is slide easily. Ex. An ice cube will slide on a spill of water.
A glacier with a thin layer of water at its base is called what?
Wet-bottom Glacier
How do wet-bottom glaciers form?
They form when the the pressure of all the mass above compresses the ice at the base, causing the ice to melt.
Why was the Pleistocene era an important part of the history of glaciers?
The Pleistocene era was known as the period of the ice age where most of North America was covered by a huge continental glacier, Ex. The Laurentide Ice Sheet of North America, so it was quite significant.
What is it called when a glacier that is moving cuts and creates scratches in the ground?
Glacial Striations
What are scientists that study glaciers called?
Glaciologists
What is Glaciation?
Glaciation is the process in which moving glaciers erode and carve out the landscape around them.
True or False? U-Shaped Valleys are formed from glaciation.
True
True or False? Cirques are formed by Alpine glaciers.
True
What glacial landforms is formed from a cirque filling up with water?
A tarn
What happens when 3 Cirques surround a sharp point of a mountain?
A horn is created
What are continental glaciers?
Continental glaciers are glaciers that are large ice sheets that cover a vast, big area. Ex. The Greenland ice sheet that basically covers all of Greenland.
Most glaciation is caused by deposition. True or false?
False- Almost all of glaciation is caused by erosion ( moraines are an exception though)
If moraines are formed by glaciation, why are they depositional, not erosional?
Moraines are are formed by glaciation because glaciers carry dirt and rock that they erode, and that makes moraines. This makes it depositional, but glaciation caused it.
V-shaped valleys were carved into U-shaped valleys through glaciation. True or False?
True
Many glaciers are found in elevated areas as in the Andes, Swiss Alps, and other mountain ranges. This is the majority of glacier locations in this world. True or False?
False- Antarctica holds literally all of the glaciers ( 91%)!
What word does glacier come from and in what language?
Glacier comes from the French word glace, which means ice.
Continental glaciers are also known as what?
Ice Sheets
