Formation of an arête

Question 1

Intro 1st mark
(An arête is…)

Answer 1

An arête is a narrow, knife edged ridge of resistant rock which forms when two carries occur side by side i.e Striding edge of Helvellyn.

Question 2

Glacier formation 1st mark
(Snow accumulates…)

Answer 2

Snow accumulates on a north/northeast facing hollow on a mountainside.

Question 3

Glacier formation 2nd mark
(Here, more…)

Answer 3

Here, more snow accumulates in winter than melts in summer, this snow is compressed to form neve ice.

Question 4

During glaciation 1st mark
(In both corries…)

Answer 4

In both corries, the glaciers move downhill due to gravity.

Question 5

During glaciation 2nd mark
(As this happens…)

Answer 5

As this happens, plucking occurs on the back wall - making the rounded ridge between the corries steeper and narrower.

Question 6

During glaciation 3rd mark
(Plucking is…)

Answer 6

Plucking is when ice freezes onto bedrock, pulling loose rocks away as it moves.

Question 7

During glaciation 4th mark
(Moraine from…)

Answer 7

Moraine from plucking and FTW becomes embedded in ice and grinds the corries as the glacier moves. This deepens the corries and makes the ridge more prominent.

Question 8

During glaciation 5th mark
(This is…)

Answer 8

This is abrasion.