Lesson 2: Ice Masses

Question 1

Define cryosphere

Answer 1

Consists of ice sheets and glaciers, together with sea ice, lake ice, permafrost, and snow cover

Question 2

Describe piedmont glacier

Answer 2

Valley glacier which extends beyond the end of a mountain walley like a fan

Question 3

How large are piedmont glaciers?

Answer 3

3-1000 sq km

Question 4

Example of piedmont glacier

Answer 4

Malaspina Glacier, Alaska

Question 5

Describe valley glacier

Answer 5

Glacier confined between valley walls and terminates in a narrow tongue

Question 6

How large are vallet glaciers?

Answer 6

3-1500 sq km

Question 7

Example of valley glacier

Answer 7

Andes or Alps

Question 8

Describe ice sheet

Answer 8

Complete submergence of regional topography, forms a gently slopping dome

Question 9

Size of ice sheet

Answer 9

10-100 000 sq km

Question 10

Example of ice sheet

Answer 10

Greenland

Question 11

Describe ice shelf

Answer 11

Large area of floating glacier ice extending from the coast where several glaciers have merged

Question 12

Size ice shelf

Answer 12

10-100 000 sq km

Question 13

Example ice shelf

Answer 13

Ronne- Filcher, Antarctica

Question 14

Describe cirque glacier

Answer 14

Smaller glacier occupying a hollow on the moutain side - carves out a corrie/ cirque. Smaller versions are niche glacier

Question 15

Size cirque glacier

Answer 15

0.5-8 sq km

Question 16

Example cirque glacier

Answer 16

Eel on Mt. Anderson, USA

Question 17

Describe ice cap

Answer 17

Smaller version of ice sheet occupying upland areas

Question 18

Size ice cap

Answer 18

3-10 000 sq km

Question 19

Example ice cap

Answer 19

Svartissen, Norway

Question 20

Describe ice field

Answer 20

Ice covering upland areas but not thick enough to bury topography

Question 21

Size ice field

Answer 21

10-100 000 sq km

Question 22

Example ice field

Answer 22

Yukon Canada

Question 23

What caused the Loch Lomond Stadial?

Answer 23

Very rapid increase in temp.
Caused rising sea levels

Question 24

How much did temp. increase by in Loch Lomond?

Answer 24

7 degrees

Question 25

How does the loch lomond stadial now look after melting?

Answer 25

Emergence of topography
Remnants of history and erosion from meltwater
Deposition of sediment

Question 26

What was the Little Ice Age?

Answer 26

Period of extreme cold when temperatures declined rapidly. Ice sheets expanded

Question 27

Cause of Little Ice Age

Answer 27

Series of volcanic eruptions prior lowering temperatures for ice sheets to expand
Or reversal of North Atlantic Oscillation caused atmospheric circulation patterns to change

Question 28

What was the impact of the Little Ice Age?

Answer 28

-Many glaciers re-advanced down valleys - not see prominent terminal moraines from rapid advancement then retreat
-Arctic Sea ice spread south
-Rivers in Europe and USA froze over