Glaciers

Question 1

Accumilation zone

Answer 1

More snow is added each winter to the glaciers by avalanches or snow and turns to ice

Question 2

Ablation zone

Answer 2

Every spring and summer the surface of the glacier melts, and ice is lost through evaporation.

Question 3

Advance

Answer 3

If there is more accumulation than ablation the glacier melts and moves down the valley

Question 4

Retreat

Answer 4

If ablation is greater then accumulation, than the glacier’s snout melts and moves backwards.

Question 5

Why does snow effect movement of the glacier?

Answer 5

As snow becomes more compacted the powder snow turns dense and becomes blue ice.

Question 6

Wgat is a cold enviroment

Answer 6

Areas of land that are permanently of mostly covered in ice sheets and Glaziers. The temperature is below freezing

Question 7

Abrasion

Answer 7

Abrasion is moving down loose sediment and as the rocks scrap the bed and walls when traveling with the glacier, it erodes them.

Question 8

Plucking

Answer 8

Meltwater gets into crack in rocks and freezes, making the ice attach to the rock but the expands until the rock breaks loose

Question 9

Freeze thaw weathering

Answer 9

This is when rain water collects in the cracks and when the temperature goes below 0°c the water freezes and expands until the pressure becomes to much and the rocks pluck of.

Question 10

How a corrie is made

Answer 10

The snow builds up in a hollow on the north face of mountain sides. A small corrie full with ice, flows out onto the main valley glacier.
The ice moves under its own weight in a circular way called rotational movement. The mountain top is weathered by freeze-thaw until it breaks sediment off which falls into the ice. The back wall erodes by plucking to create a jagged shape as well as abrasion on the floor. As the ice is thinner at the front of the corrie there is less erosion so a lips or moraine is formed. When the ice melts a tarn is formed.

Question 11

How is an arête formed

Answer 11

Two corries on the different sides of a mountain are formed which erodes the mountain to becoming an arête

Question 12

How is a pyramidal peak formed

Answer 12

Three or more corries on the different sides of a mountain are formed which erodes the mountain to becoming an arête called a pyramidal peak

Question 13

What is a hanging valley

Answer 13

A small valley are normally coursed be a corrie and allows a path of a small stream to flow down to the main valley.

Question 14

What is a misfit stream

Answer 14

A river that was formed by the melting of a glaciers in a valley that did not cause any of the erosion.

Question 15

What is a glacial budget

Answer 15

The glacial budget refers to the balance between the amount of inputs versus outputs affecting the glacial system.

Question 16

What is a ribbon lake

Answer 16

A ribbon lake is a long and narrow, finger-shaped lake, usually found in a glacial trough.

Question 17

Why do areas get colder with a higher altitude?

Answer 17

There is often less ground to heat the air and less air particles to vibrate (10.0m = -1c)

Question 18

What things cause glacial accumulation?

Answer 18

• Rocks from the mountain
• snow fall
• avalanches

Question 19

Where is the most powerful part of a glacier as it flows?

Answer 19

The middle as there is less friction

Question 20

Name the three types of glacier erosion and what they do…

Answer 20

Freeze thaw weathering: 1. rain collects in cracks 2. The water freezes and expands making the crack bigger 3. Over time the rock breaks off causing scree and rocks for abrasion and glacial accumulation

Abrasion: rocks and scree from the mountain have a sand paper effect as they rub against the floor

Plucking: melted water from beneath the glacier refreezes and any weakly attached rocks are plucked away leaving jagged rocks which are smoothed by abrasion

Question 21

When is a “v” shaped valley carved out?

Answer 21

A “v” shaped valley is carved out by a river

Question 22

When is a “u” shaped valley formed?

Answer 22

(Sometimes glaciers follow the path of a river) A “u” shaped valley is formed by a glacier as the floor and walls of a valley are eroded wider and deeper