Ice on the Land

Question 0

How long ago did the last glacial period end?

Answer 0

100,000 years ago

Question 1

What was the name of the last ice age?

Answer 1

The Pleistocene

Question 2

How much of the earths land surface is currently covered by ice?

Answer 2

10%

Question 3

What three types of evidence are used to identify past temperature changes?

Answer 3

Chemical
Geological
Fossil

Question 4

Define the term accumulation

Answer 4

The input of snow and ice into a glacier

Question 5

What is the zone of ablation?

Answer 5

You get more ablation than accumulation in the lower part of a glacier so it’s called the zone of ablation.

Question 6

What happens when a glacier has a positive glacial budget?

Answer 6

When accumulation is greater than ablation. The glacier gets larger and the snout advances down the valley.

Question 7

Why does a glacier retreat in summer?

Answer 7

Because there is a negative glacial budget due to lack of accumulation and ablation due to high temperatures.

Question 8

Give an example of a retreating glacier

Answer 8

The Rhone Glacier in the Swiss Alps. 7.8km long. It’s been retreating since the 19th century.

Question 9

Give 3 sources used as evidence of glacial retreat

Answer 9

Pictures
Monitoring data
Amount of meltwater

Question 10

What is rotational slip?

Answer 10

At the top end of a glacier the ice doesn’t move in a straight line - it moves in a circular motion called rotational slip. This can erode hollows in the landscape and deepen them into bowl shapes.

Question 11

Explain what freeze thaw weathering is

Answer 11

Where water gets into cracks in rocks and then freezes and expands putting pressure on the rock. The ice then thaws, releasing the pressure. If this process is repeated it can cause pieces of rock to fall off.

Question 12

What is a corrie?

Answer 12

Carries begin as hollows containing a small glacier. As the ice moves by rotational slip, it erodes the hollow into a steep stored armchair shape with a lip at the bottom end. When the ice melts it can leave a small circular lake called a tarn.

Question 13

How does a pyramidal peak form?

Answer 13

It is formed when three or more back to back glaciers erode a mountain.

Question 14

What is a pyramidal peak?

Answer 14

A pointed mountain peak with at least three sides. E.g Snowdon in Wales

Question 15

Explain how a hanging valley forms.

Answer 15

They are formed by smaller glaciers (tributary glaciers) that flow into the main glacier. The glacial trough is eroded much more deeply by the larger glacier so when it melts the valleys are left at a higher level.

Question 16

What is bulldozing?

Answer 16

Glaciers can move material (such as rocks and earth) over very large distances - this is called transportation. The material is frozen in the glacier, carried on its surface or pushed in front of it. It’s called BULLDOZING when the ice pushes loose material in front of it.

Question 17

Describe what a drumlin looks like.

Answer 17

They’re round, blunt and steep at the upstream end, and tapered, pointed and gently sloping at the down stream end. Like a tear drop from birds eye view.

Question 18

How would you identify a pyramidal peak on a map?

Answer 18

A pyramidal peak has tightly packed contour lines that curve away from the central high point. If you find this you’ll find the arêtes and carries around it.

Question 19

Describe what a glacial trough looks like on a map.

Answer 19

Glacial troughs are flat valleys with very steep sides. There are no contour lines on the bottom of the valley but they’re tightly packed on the sides.

Question 20

What does a ribbon lake look like on a map?

Answer 20

Long straight and thin

Question 21

Give one reason why areas covered in snow and ice are fragile environments

Answer 21

They are easily damaged and difficult to manage.
There’s only a short growing season.
Decay is slow because of the cold so litter and pollution remain in the environment for a long time.

Question 22

Give two social impacts of tourism on areas covered by ice and snow

Answer 22

Increased numbers of people.
More jobs.
Tourists can trigger avalanches.

Question 23

Describe two environmental impacts of tourism on areas covered in snow and ice.

Answer 23

Soil erosion.
Glacial landforms are eroded.
Increased noise, pollution and litter.
Developments have a visual impact on the environment.

Question 24

Give an example of an area in the Alps used for winter sports and sightseeing of glaciers

Answer 24

Chamonix in eastern France at the foot of Mont Blanc in the Alps.

Question 25

Give examples of management strategies used in Chamomix

Answer 25

Avalanche barriers.
Free public transport.
Reduced energy use.

Question 26

Name an industry affected by glacial retreat

Answer 26

Winter tourism

Question 27

Give one social impact of glacial retreat

Answer 27

Unreliable power supply.
Water supply reduced in some places.
Services shut down.
Ice will no longer be available for recreational use.

Question 28

Give one economic impact of glacial retreat

Answer 28

One the glacier has completely melted, the amount of meltwater decreases. This means industries that rely on a supply of melt water will make less money and could shut down.