Glaciers As Systems

Question 1

What is meant by a ‘natural system’?

Answer 1

Something that has inputs, processes, and outputs.

Question 2

What are the inputs of a glacial system?

Answer 2

Precipitation - typically snow.
Avalanche
Sediments or rocks

Question 3

What are the processes of a glacial system?

Answer 3

Melting and freezing
Compaction
Movement of ice

Question 4

What are the outputs of a glacial system?

Answer 4

Meltwater

Question 5

What percentage of a snowflake is air?

Answer 5

80-95%

Question 6

How does snow/snowflakes become ice?

Answer 6

Compaction

Question 7

What is néve?

Answer 7

Granular snow consisting of low density ice crystals.
Also called firn

Question 8

What is sensible heat?

Answer 8

The amount of heat energy that occurs when an object is heated. This includes cooling

Question 9

How to glaciers exchange energy?

Answer 9

Through melting

Question 10

What are the two types of heat rising in a glacier?

Answer 10

Sensible heat and Latent heat

Question 11

What is involved in a Positive feedback loop?

Answer 11

Cooling
Growth of ice
Increased albedo
Less insolation (sun) absorbed
Cooling

Question 12

What is involved in a Negative feedback loop?

Answer 12

Warming
Melting of ice
Decreased albedo
More insolation (sun) absorbed
Warming

Question 13

What is dynamic equilibrium?

Answer 13

When the accumulation and ablation of a glacier is equal