Glaciation Flashcards

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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
Q

Rock Flour

A

Very fine rock particles caused when rocks are ground down by glacial erosion

26
Q

Abrasion

A

Rubbing together of rocks

27
Q

Striations

A

Caused by large rocks cutting grooves in bed rock

28
Q

Scree

A

A mass of small loose stones covering a slope

29
Q

Tarn

A

A small mountain lake

30
Q

Nivation

A

The erosion of the ground and sides of a hollow as a result of continued freeze-thaw

31
Q

Bergschrund

A

A crevasse at the top of the glacier between the back wall of the corrie and the glacier

32
Q

Moraine

A

Rocks and sediments carried and then deposited by a glacier

33
Q

Supraglacial

A

On the surface of a glacier

34
Q

Englacial

A

Inside the glacier

35
Q

Subglacial

A

Underneath the glacier

36
Q

Sandur

A

A glacial meltwater outwash plain

37
Q

Active Layer

A

The surface layer above permafrost that thaws seasonally in periglacial environments.

38
Q

Blockfield

A

A surface covered in shattered, frost weathered angular rock debris.

39
Q

Cold Based Glacier

A

A glacier whose base temperature is such that glacial ice is frozen to the bedrock all year
round.

40
Q

Esker

A

A ridge of material generally running in the direction of ice and formed by fluvioglacial
deposition.

41
Q

Frost Action

A

The weathering and disintegration of rock caused by repeated fluctuation of temperature
around freezing point.

42
Q

Glacial Budget

A

The balance between the material inputs and outputs of a glacier.

43
Q

Ice Wedge

A

A narrow, vertical mass of ice that penetrates cracks in the ground from the surface
downwards and progressively enlarges them.

44
Q

Internal Deformation

A

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
Q

Kame

A

A steep-sided mound on the floor of glaciated landscapes formed by fluvioglacial deposition.

46
Q

Lobe

A

A semi-circular build-up of soil present on hillslopes in periglacial environments.

47
Q

Outwash Plain

A

An extensive, gently sloping area of deposited materials formed in front of a glacier.

48
Q

Patterned Ground

A

Distinctive patterns of surface material found in periglacial areas and mainly formed by frost
action.

49
Q

Periglacial

A

Concerning areas processes and landforms adjacent to an icesheet or glacier.

50
Q

Pingo

A

A dome-shaped mound formed by the freezing of subsurface water covered by a layer of soil.

51
Q

Roche Moutonnee

A

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
Q

Solifluction

A

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
Q

Thermokarst

A

A periglacial landscape consisting of hollows, ponds and hummocks caused by local melting of
the permafrost.

54
Q

Warm Based Glacier

A

A glacier where the base temperature fluctuates above melting point during summer months,
allowing liquid water to lubricate glacial movement

55
Q

Weathering

A

Sub-aerial processes leading to the disintegration and decomposition of rock and thus
influencing the nature of landforms and the character of the landscape.