Glacial systems

Question 1

What was the last glaciation period called

Answer 1

Wisoconsin Glaciation LGM 18 000 yr ago

Question 2

Explain the accumulation and ablation zones of a glacier

Answer 2

accumulation - material is added - no mass lost (upper parts)

Ablation - more mass is lost than gained each year. lower part of glacier

Question 3

The _____ is where accumulation and ablation are equal

The ______ is the lower end of the glacier

Answer 3

Equillibrium line

glacial terminus

Question 4

Describe the 3 types of glaciers unconfined by topography

Answer 4

Largest to smallest:
Ice sheets
Ice shelves
Ice caps

Question 5

Describe the 3 types of glaciers confined by topography (usually in valleys)

Answer 5

Largest to smallest:
Niche glaciers
cirque glaciers
valley glaciers

Question 6

A ______ glacier flows is a type of glacier that flows from a valley into a an open plain (fanning out)

Answer 6

Piedmont

Question 7

Describe the differences between glacial drift till (ablation till) and Stratified drift

Answer 7

glacial till is unsorted (from solid ice, not liquid)

Stratified drift is from meltwater - transportation and deposition by water sorts deposits into strata

Question 8

Describe how terminal and lateral moraines are formed

Answer 8

Lateral pulling of rock to sides of glacier as it retracts (pulled down and then left once the ice retracts/melts)

Terminal: moved/pushed/left at the bottom of the glacier. Terminal moraine represents where the end line of that glacier stood for some time.

Question 9

Explain the processes through which glaciers contribute to landscape erosion.

Answer 9

-Plucking + Abrasion
-Transportation

Question 10

_____ are steep-walled, sinuous ridges of sand and coarse-grained stratified material deposited by stream of meltwater that flow within or beneath the ice

Answer 10

Eskers

Question 11

How are drumlins formed?

Answer 11

like this

drumlins are asymmetrical hills composed of glacial till