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Glaciation Flashcards

1
Q

Neve

A

Granular snow consisting of low density ice crystals

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2
Q

Sensible Heat

A

The amount of heat energy that occurs when an object is heated

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3
Q

Sublimation

A

The transition of ice to water vapour without the liquid stage

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4
Q

Accumulation

A

The natural addition of snow or ice to a glacier

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5
Q

Ablation

A

The natural removal of snow or ice from a glacier

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6
Q

Accumulation Zone

A

The area of net gain in a glacier

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7
Q

Ablation Zone

A

The area of net loss in a glacier

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8
Q

Paleoclimatic

A

Climatic conditions in the geological past reconstructed from data sources

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9
Q

Pleistocene Era

A

The first Epoch of the Quaternary Period

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10
Q

Altitude

A

The height of land in relation to sea level

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11
Q

Latitude

A

The distance North or South of the equator

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12
Q

Permafrost

A

Areas of permanently frozen ground

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13
Q

Thermohaline System

A

Part of the ocean circulation caused by different water densities due to salinity and temperature

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14
Q

Ice Lenses

A

Formed when moisture, diffused with soil or rock accumulates

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15
Q

Soil

A

Any loose material at the surface of the Earth capable of supporting life

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16
Q

Cryohydration

A

Individual particles in the soil are split as a result of the freezing and contracting of water on the surface of the mineral particle.

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17
Q

Glacial Period

A

A time period when ice masses develop and advance to lower altitudes, characterised by a sustained decline in temperature and the formation of continental ice sheets

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18
Q

Interglacial Period

A

A time period when ice cover retreats to the polar regions (current Period)

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19
Q

Crevasses

A

A deep fissure or fracture in the glacier

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20
Q

Basal Sliding

A

Large scale movement of ice as a result of subglacial meltwater

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21
Q

Pressure Melting Point

A

The temperature at which ice under pressure melts (can be below freezing)

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22
Q

Seracs

A

Streep faults in the surface of the glacier

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23
Q

Extensional Flow

A

Ice is moving faster at the front resulting in crevasses

24
Q

Compressional Flow

A

Ice is moving slower at the front resulting in a build up of ice

25
Rock Flour
Very fine rock particles caused when rocks are ground down by glacial erosion
26
Abrasion
Rubbing together of rocks
27
Striations
Caused by large rocks cutting grooves in bed rock
28
Scree
A mass of small loose stones covering a slope
29
Tarn
A small mountain lake
30
Nivation
The erosion of the ground and sides of a hollow as a result of continued freeze-thaw
31
Bergschrund
A crevasse at the top of the glacier between the back wall of the corrie and the glacier
32
Moraine
Rocks and sediments carried and then deposited by a glacier
33
Supraglacial
On the surface of a glacier
34
Englacial
Inside the glacier
35
Subglacial
Underneath the glacier
36
Sandur
A glacial meltwater outwash plain
37
Active Layer
The surface layer above permafrost that thaws seasonally in periglacial environments.
38
Blockfield
A surface covered in shattered, frost weathered angular rock debris.
39
Cold Based Glacier
A glacier whose base temperature is such that glacial ice is frozen to the bedrock all year round.
40
Esker
A ridge of material generally running in the direction of ice and formed by fluvioglacial deposition.
41
Frost Action
The weathering and disintegration of rock caused by repeated fluctuation of temperature around freezing point.
42
Glacial Budget
The balance between the material inputs and outputs of a glacier.
43
Ice Wedge
A narrow, vertical mass of ice that penetrates cracks in the ground from the surface downwards and progressively enlarges them.
44
Internal Deformation
Small scale deformation of ice crystals caused by gravity and the pressure of surrounding ice causing them to slide over each other in a series of parallel planes with an overall downslope component.
45
Kame
A steep-sided mound on the floor of glaciated landscapes formed by fluvioglacial deposition.
46
Lobe
A semi-circular build-up of soil present on hillslopes in periglacial environments.
47
Outwash Plain
An extensive, gently sloping area of deposited materials formed in front of a glacier.
48
Patterned Ground
Distinctive patterns of surface material found in periglacial areas and mainly formed by frost action.
49
Periglacial
Concerning areas processes and landforms adjacent to an icesheet or glacier.
50
Pingo
A dome-shaped mound formed by the freezing of subsurface water covered by a layer of soil.
51
Roche Moutonnee
An outcrop of rock shaped by glacial erosion, with the upslope side being steep and irregular in form contrasting with the downslope side being relatively smooth and gently sloping.
52
Solifluction
Movement in summer months of thawed wet soil down gentle slopes under which frozen subsoil acts as a barrier preventing percolation and thus lubricating the overlying soil.
53
Thermokarst
A periglacial landscape consisting of hollows, ponds and hummocks caused by local melting of the permafrost.
54
Warm Based Glacier
A glacier where the base temperature fluctuates above melting point during summer months, allowing liquid water to lubricate glacial movement
55
Weathering
Sub-aerial processes leading to the disintegration and decomposition of rock and thus influencing the nature of landforms and the character of the landscape.

Geography (6 decks)

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