Outwash Plains Flashcards
1
Q
What are outwash plains made of?
A
They consist of material that was brought down by the glacier and then picked up, sorted and dropped by running water beyond the position of the front ice.
2
Q
How are outwash plains formed?
A
The coarsest material travels the shortest distance and is therefore found near to the glacier; the fine material, such as clay, is carried some distance across the plain before being deposited. The deposits are also layered vertically, which reflects the seasonal flow of meltwater streams.
3
Q
Where are outwash plains found?
A
In front of the glacier’s snout and are deposited by the meltwater streams issuing from the ice.
