Glacial (Cold Environments)

Question 1

Define Glacial Environment

Answer 1

. Glacial Environments are areas of land permanently covered by ice

. Land can be covered by glaciers or ice sheets

Question 2

Define Glacier

Answer 2

. Masses of ice that flow downhill

Question 3

Name two main types of Glaciers

Answer 3

. Valley Glaciers

. Corrie Glaciers

Question 4

Define Valley Glacier

Answer 4

. Fill valleys and can be several kilometres long

Question 5

Define Corrie Glacier

Answer 5

.Smaller glaciers that are found in bowl - shaped hollows high up in the mountains

Question 6

Define Ice sheets

Answer 6

. Mass of glacial land ice covering more than 50,000km²

. Domes of ice covering huge areas of land

Question 7

Explain Glacial Climate

Answer 7

. Temperatures are cold enough for ice to present all year around, nut may be warm enough in summer for meltwater to affect glaciers

. Most glacial environments have high snowfall, but in extremely cold areas (e.g. Antarctica), ice sheets and glaciers can persist even when snowfall is very low

Question 8

Explain Soil for Glacial Environment

Answer 8

. Glacial environments are covered by ice permanently, so there is not exposed soil. This means lack of vegetation

Question 9

Explain Vegetation for Glacial Environment

Answer 9

. There are very few plants, though algae and moss may grow on the glacier surface during summer

Question 10

Define meltwater

Answer 10

. Water released by the melting of snow or ice

. Often found in the ablation zone of glaciers, where the rate of snow cover is reducing

Question 11

What else could be found in a glacial environment?

Answer 11

. Ice shelves

Question 12

Define ice shelves

Answer 12

. Ice shelves are platforms of ice that form where ice sheets and glaciers move out into the ocean. They are floating extensions of land ice. They are firmly attached to the land

Question 13

Welsh Name for Corrie

Answer 13

Cwm

E.g. Cwm Idwal