GL03 Warm based and cold based glaciers

Question 1

What are some of the key characteristics of warm-based glaciers?

Answer 1

• Warm-based glaciers typically have high altitude locations with steep relief, basal temperatures at or above pressure melting point, and rapid rates of movement, typically around 20-200 meters per year.
• They also have large seasonal variation due to the advance and retreat of the glacier, and produce significant erosion erosional landforms due to the rapid ice movements and large volumes of meltwater. Examples of warm-based glaciers include those in the Alps and the Rockies.

Question 2

What are some of the key characteristics of cold-based glaciers?

Answer 2

• Cold-based glaciers are typically found in high latitude locations with low relief, and have basal temperatures below pressure melting point, so they are frozen to the bedrock.
• They have very slow rates of movement, often only a few meters per year, and are often found in Antarctica and Greenland where summer temperatures are below freezing and precipitation is low.
• Due to their slow movement, there is little erosion, deposition, and transportation taking place, and they have limited landscape impact.

Question 3

What is the difference in basal temperature between warm-based and cold-based glaciers?

Answer 3

• Warm-based glaciers have basal temperatures at or above pressure melting point, while cold-based glaciers have basal temperatures below pressure melting point and are therefore frozen to the bedrock.

Question 4

What is the difference in rates of movement between warm-based and cold-based glaciers?

Answer 4

• Warm-based glaciers have rapid rates of movement, typically around 20-200 meters per year, while cold-based glaciers have very slow rates of movement, often only a few meters per year.

Question 5

What is the difference in rates of erosion between warm-based and cold-based glaciers?

Answer 5

• Warm-based glaciers have much faster rates of erosion due to faster glacier movement and greater amounts of glacial fluvial landforms, while cold-based glaciers have much slower rates of erosion due to their slow movement.