Glaciation Part 1 Flashcards
Glacial
A prolonged cold climate phase that lasts tens of thousands of years and causes continental glaciation in middle and high latitudes.
Inter-glacial
A period of climatic warming ( lasting 10,000 years) between glacials.
Ice age
A period of cold climate
Holocene
Lasts 12,000 years- since end of last ice age.
Epoch
Period of time
Quaternary
A geographical period ranging from 2.6 may to modern day.
Cryosphere
The frozen water part of the earth’s system
Glacier
A large mass of moving ice and snow on land
Ablation
Changing from ice to a liquid or gas
Where in the would can we find ice sheets?
Greenland and Antarctica
What are the inputs of a glacial system?
Precipitation, material, thermal, kinetic and potential energy.
What are the throughputs in a glacial system?
Gravitational energy, frictional energy and release of latent heat.
What percentage of the earths surface is covered in ice?
10%
How often do ice ages occur?
Every 200-500 million years.
Albedo
The reflection of solar radiation by the earths surface.
Accumulation
The build up of snow or precipitation over a period of time.
Negative feedback
The system will self-regulate to re-establish stability through counteracting the change and will maintain a state of equilibrium.
Positive feedback
A change creates a response in the system reinforces the effect of the original change, creating a snowball effect which can lead to a new state of equilibrium.
Positive mass balance
Accumulation > ablation
Usually occurs in winter and glacier advances.
Negative mass balance
Ablation > accumulation
Usually occurs in summer and glacier retreats.
Mitigation
Reduce the effect of something
Open system
A system in which matter can enter and escape to the surroundings.
Closed system
A system in which no matter is allowed to enter or leave.
Aeolian processes
Wind can carry out erosion, transpiration and deposition which can shape glaciated landscapes.