Key defenitions Flashcards
What is ablation?
Melting of the glacier
What is the active layer?
layer of ground above permafrost which thaws in summer and freezes again in winter
What is glacier mass balance?
The difference between the amount of ablation and accumulation occurring in a glacier
What is lithology?
Describes the physical and chemical composition of rocks
What is digenisis?
The process by which firn gets compacted by years of snow fall, it then becomes glacier ice
What is permafrost?
Permanently frozen ground
What is pressure melting point?
Temperature at which the ice is on the verge of melting
What is till?
Material deposited directly by the ice
What is out wash?
Material deposited by the metlwater
What is a nivation hollow?
Hollows form under the emerging glacier as a result of the freeze-thaw
What is carbonation?
When carbon in the air mixes with moisture
What is frost heave?
Under the ground, stones freeze and the sediment under the stones freezes and expands. This results in pressure being put on the ground. Resulting in a mound.
