Formation And Processes Of Glaciers

Question 1

How/ why are glaciers formed?

Answer 1

Every year another layer of snow is added to the last, pushing out the air in the snow, which eventually over a period of about 20-30 years, forms hard ice because there is no more air within the the snow/ice.

Question 2

What are the inputs of a glacier (2) and what is this zone called?

Answer 2

1) snow fall
2) avalanches
Zone of accumulation

Question 3

What are the outputs of a glacier (2) and what is the zone of outputs called?

Answer 3

1) melt water
2) chunks of ice which have broken off.
Zone of ablation

Question 4

What is the end of the glacier called?

Answer 4

Snout

Question 5

What causes the glacier to move downhill (2)?

Where are glaciers born?

Answer 5

1) gravity
2) meltwater under the glacier

In a corrie.

Question 6

Define calving.

Define sublimation.

Answer 6

Calving is when chunks of ice break of the snout.

Sublimation is the change of ice to vapor (solid water to water gas).

Question 7

Define

1) interglacial period
2) glacial period
3) ice sheet
4) ice cap

Answer 7

1) a short period of warmer than average temperatures. Usually 15C or higher. Ice usually retreats during these periods.
2) a short period of colder temperatures. Usually 10C or lower. Ice usually advances during these periods.
3) a large area of ice over 50’000km2.
4) a smaller area of ice less than 50,000km2. Usually found in highland areas.

Question 8

What was the name of the last Ice Age?
How many years ago was the maximum coverage?
How many years ago did the last ice age end?
What is the name of the current interglacial period?

Answer 8

Pleistocene
18,000
10,000
Holocene.

Question 9

How far did the ice reach in the Uk at the peak of the last ice age?
How much of the earths surface was covered.

Answer 9

The Severn estuary

30%.