Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Geography > Glacial Landscapes > Flashcards

Glacial Landscapes Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
World Geography flashcards U.S. Geography flashcards
1
Q

What is a glacier?

A

A large accumulation of snow and ice which moves under its own weight.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How does a glacier form?

A

Precipitation falls as snow.

Each Layer becomes heavier and compresses the layers underneath.

This is called diagenesis

Real glacial ice is when there is only 20% of air as bubbles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is an open system?

A

A system that allows the transfer of both matter and energy to neighbouring systems

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a glacial period

A

Periods of very cold and dry climate in which land ice and valley glaciers have grown to their maximum levels
The last one ended 10,000 years ago

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is an interglacial period

A

Warmer periods during which much of the ice has retreated
Current interglacial period is known as the Holocene

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Inputs of a glacial system

A

Snow, hail, avalanches, rock debris, solar energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Outputs of a glacial system

A

Calving, melting, sublimation, evaporation, previously eroded material that has been transported and deposited by the glacier

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Give an example of a positive feedback loop in a glacial environment

A

Temperature rises - Permafrost melts - Co2 released - Greenhouse effect - Temp rises

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Give an example of a negative feedback loop in a glacial environment

A

Temp rises - Permafrost melts - Plants absorb more co2 - Reduces greenhouse effect - Temp cools

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Name the 4 types of polar environments

A

Polar, Periglacial/tundra, alpine, glacial

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the albedo effect

A

When incoming solar radiation is reflected back into space due to light colours such as ice
This causes it to be cooler in these areas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Outline the characteristics of the climate in periglacial environments

A

Very cold and dry all year round
little seasonality

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the main features of soil in periglacial environments?

A

Lack of clearly defined layers

Thin organic layer, often acidic

Waterlogged in summer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the main features of vegetation in periglacial environments?

A

Low level of production

Low levels of biodiversity

Vegetation close to the ground

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What does aspect mean?

A

The direction the slope faces

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What does accumulation mean

A

The addition of snow and ice over time

17
Q

What does ablation mean?

A

The loss of snow and ice overtime

18
Q

What is the net balance of a glacier

A

The difference between accumulation and ablation

19
Q

What is pressure melting point

A

That temperature at which ice is on the verge of melting

20
Q

Outline the characteristics of a warm based glacier

A

Found at high altitude locations

Meltwater means the glacier is more mobile

More rates of erosion, transportation and deposition

Athabasca Glacier

21
Q

Outline the characteristics of a cold based glacier

A

Found at high latitude locations

Less meltwater so often does not move much

Much less erosion, transportation and deposition

Meserve Glacier

22
Q

Outline the process of internal deformation

A

Explains the movement of cold based glaciers
Under great pressure at the base of a glacier the ice crystals allign themselves to the direction of movement of the glacier
Most likely near the bed as pressures are highest
Cracks can emerge leading to the formation of crevasses
Glacier remains frozen to the bedrock

23
Q

Corries

A

Form when snow continues to build up in a nivation hollow and eventually compacts to form a glacier

Glacier becomes trapped within the hollow, only way it can move is rotational slip

Back wall eroded through plucking and frost shattering, hollow deeped via abtasion

Water can fill corries to make tarns

24
Q

Arêtes

A

A knife edged ridge formed between two corries (when two steep backwalls meet)

If three meet they create a pyrmaidal peak

25
Q

Glacial Troughs

A

A u-shaped valley formed by a glacier bulldozing and eroding through a river valley

The glacier has enough force to erode a rivers interlocking spurs leaving smooth but steep truncated spurs

aswell as a wide flat valley floor

The original river will continue to flow but now as a misfit stream due to the difference in its size with its surroundings

26
Q

Hanging Valleys

A

A smaller u-shaped valley caused by a tributary glacier. The smaller glacier does not have enough energy to erode to the valley floor leaving a hanging valley where waterfalls usually form

27
Q

Roche mountonees

A

Glacier hits an obstacle that is too large/hard to pluck
Hitting the obstacle creates pressure and friction increasing melting as the lower ice reaches PMP
The meltwater allows the glacier to slide over the rock and smaller rocks abrade the stoss side
When the glacier reaches the top of the obstacle friction and pressure drop
Meltwater refreezes
Frozen rocks are plucked from the lee side

28
Q

Till plains

A

Unsorted glacial material formed through erosion and weathering

Form when an ice sheet detaches from the main glacier and melts causing all of the till on top of and within the glacier to deposit on the valley floor

29
Q

Erratics

A

A large boulder that is of a different rock type to the surrounding rock
Would have been broken off by weathering and erosion then transported by a glacier and deposited when it has been moved to a different location

30
Q

Moraines

A

Deposits of eroded material that are transported with the glacier

Lateral: Material deposited on the sides of a glacier leaving a ridge when the ice melts

Medial: Formed when two lateral morains meet in the middle of a glacier and deposit material

Ground: Carried under the glacier and abraded between glacier and valley floor. Only sorted moraine

Recessional: Forms at the end of a glacier

31
Q

Drumlins

A

When a glacier hits an obstacle that cannot be eroded deposition from underneath the glacier builds up behind the obstacle

The glacier moves over the large mound and drags excess deposition to the other side
Tear drops shape with a long tapered edge

Blunt end - stoss side

Tapered end - Lee side

Geography (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions