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Geography > Glaciated Landscapes SG1 > Flashcards

Glaciated Landscapes SG1 Flashcards

1
Q

Define Glacier

A

A land based ice mass that is thick enough to ‘flow’ under its own weight

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2
Q

Define Glaciated Landscape

A

Landscapes that have been shaped by the action of glaciers (current and past glaciers)

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3
Q

Define Valley Glacier

A

River of ice which flows down from high mountains, following the course of existing river valleys

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4
Q

How long are valley glaciers?

A

10-30km

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5
Q

Define Ice Sheet

A

Areas of thick ice spread out over land and sea

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6
Q

How far do ice sheets extend for?

A

> 50,000km3

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7
Q

What % of today’s ice is in ice sheets?

A

69%

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8
Q

What % of the earth is covered by ice?

A

10%

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9
Q

What is the last glacial period called?

A

The Pleistocene

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10
Q

How long ago was the Pleistocene?

A

2 million - 11,000 years ago

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11
Q

What is the current interglacial period called?

A

Holocene

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12
Q

When did the Holocene start?

A

11,000 years ago (at the end of the Pleistocene)

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13
Q

Define Ice Age

A

An extended period of time where the earth experienced a cycle of very cold phases (glacials), interspersed with warmer phases (interglacials)

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14
Q

Define Glacial

A

A very cold phase where global temperatures dropped by approximately 5 degrees C resulting in the spread of ice

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15
Q

Define Interglacial

A

Warm phase where temperatures increased to present level or above

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16
Q

Define Accumulation

A

Input of snow and ice to a glacier

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17
Q

Define Ablation

A

The loss of ice and snow through melting, evaporation and sublimation

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18
Q

Define Equilibrium Line

A

Balance between inputs and outputs

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19
Q

Define Net Balance

A

Difference between accumulation and ablation

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20
Q

Define Glacial Mass Balance (or Budget)

A

The difference between the amount of snow and ice accumulation and the amount of ablation occurring in a glacier over a one year period

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21
Q

Is the glacial mass balance positive or negative in winter?

A

Positive - accumulation exceeds ablation

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22
Q

Is the glacial mass balance positive or negative in summer?

A

Negative - ablation exceeds accumulation

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23
Q

Define System

A

A set of interrelated elements comprising of components (stores) and processes (links) that are connected together to form a working unit

24
Q

What three things does a glacier comprise of?

A

Inputs, Throughputs/Processes, Outputs

25
Q

Define Potential Energy

A

Energy stored in the glacier’s height

26
Q

Define Kinetic Energy

A

The capacity to do work as a result of motion

27
Q

Define Thermal Energy

A

The capacity to do work as a result of heat

28
Q

Define Diagenesis

A

How snow turns into ice

29
Q

Where are cold based glaciers found?

A

At high latitude locations and in places of low relief

30
Q

Where are warm based glaciers found?

A

At high altitude locations and in places of high relief

31
Q

What is another name for a warm based glacier?

A

Temperate glaciers

32
Q

What is another name for a cold based glacier?

A

Polar glaciers

33
Q

What is the velocity of warm based glaciers?

A

20m to 200m per year

34
Q

What is the velocity of cold based glaciers?

A

Only a few meters per year

35
Q

Define Pressure Melting Point

A

The temperature at which ice is at the verge of melting, at a given pressure

36
Q

What is the main movement of warm based glaciers?

A

Basal sliding

37
Q

What is the main movement of cold based glaciers?

A

Internal deformation

38
Q

What are the three mechanisms of basal sliding?

A

Slippage, Regelation, Substrate deformation

39
Q

Define Slippage

A

If the basal temperature is above pressure melting point a thin film of melt water exists between the glacier and valley floor so friction is reduced

40
Q

Define Regelation (or Creep)

A

On the up-valley side of an obstruction the ice will have increased pressure, creating higher temperatures. This causes the ice to deform around the obstruction. It refreezes on the downhill side

41
Q

Define Substrate Deformation

A

When meltwater is present beneath a glacier it can seep into any sediment below. When the sediment becomes saturated it will act as a lubricant and the ice will slide on it

42
Q

What are the two mechanisms of internal deformation?

A

Intergranular slip, Laminar flow

43
Q

Define Intergranular Slip

A

The overlying weight of ice can result in the individual ice crystals changing shape due to compaction. Ice crystals become flattened and so slide over each other

44
Q

Define Laminar Flow

A

The layers of snow, firn, neve and glacial ice create planes of weakness. This combined movement allows the ice to move down-slope under the effect of gravity

45
Q

Define The Rigid Zone

A

The upper zone of the glacier where the ice is brittle and breaks

46
Q

Define The Plastic Zone

A

The lower zone of the glacier where under the pressure the ice deforms

47
Q

Define Extending Flow

A

When ice moves over a steep slope it is unable to deform quickly enough so it fractures forming crevasses. The leading ice pulls away from the ice behind it

48
Q

Define Compressing Flow

A

When the gradient decreases, ice thickens and the flowing ice pushes over the slower moving leading ice

49
Q

Define Closed System

A

Have transfers of energy into and beyond the system but not matter

50
Q

Define Open System

A

Have transfers of matter and energy beyond the system

51
Q

Are glaciers open or closed systems?

A

Open

52
Q

Define Dynamic Equilibrium

A

A state of balance between continually changing processes

53
Q

Define Negative Feedback

A

Acts to minimise or dampen the effect on change

54
Q

Define Positive Feedback

A

Acts to reinforce or amplify the effect on change

55
Q

What are the three physical factors affecting glaciated landscape systems?

A

Climate, Latitude and Altitude, Relief and Aspect, Geology

Geography (40 decks)

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