physical Envi - Glaciation Flashcards
The three processes of abrasion
freeze thaw weathering, plucking and abrasion
Abrasion for glacial errosion (corrie) -
Abrasion: when angular rocks embedded in the ice grinds the hollow
freeze thaw weathering
when water in cracks freezes, expands and contracts weakening the rock until fragments break off
Plucking
when ice freezes onto bedrock, pulling loose rocks away from the back wall
example of a corrie
cwm idwal in wales
how is a corrie formed? - might appear
Snow gathers in north facing mountain hollows, where there is more shade. snow builds up and compacts to neve. The action of gravity means the ice slowly moves downhill. As it goes, it sticks to back walls and plucks rock from the surface, this is the process plucking. Rocks on the backwalls are loosened by tweeze thaw. Ice from plucking act like sandpaper and deepens the hollow by abrasion, Stones frozen in the base of the ice grind or abrade the corrie base, deepening it. Ice in a corrie has a rotational movement which means that the front of the corrie is less eroded, and a lip forms. The glacier retreats and melts, often leaving a tarn in the base of the corrie.
example of a U shaped valley
The Nant Francon Valley, Snowdonia
what features does a U shape valley have?
truncated spurs, a ribbon lake and hanging valleys
how does a ribbon lake form? - not likely
When there is a section of less resistant rock beneath the glacier, it can be eroded away more than rock around it, this leaves a hollow or depression that then fills with water. like a ribbon lake
Erratic’s and things like the kettle holes are all what features?
glaciation deposition features
what is a large rock that is deposited by the movement of a glacier. The rock type is usually different from others as its been moved from a different valley. Its left exposed when the glacier retreats
Erratic - likely to be asked
what is a moraine?
(rock left behind moving glacier)
terminal moraine’s are at the end of the glacier. Made from unsorted material and can create a lip behind which a lake can then form in
Kettle hole - likely to appear
Its a hollow filled by a lake. Large blocks of ice leave behind a depression on the out-wash plane when the glacier retreats leaving behind a deeper hollow. The hole fills with water due to rain collection
Drumlins
Are smooth, oval mounds created in groups. Deposited material gets dragged along by a glacier with the lower section being smooth and the steep side facing the glacier. Unsorted material is due to the lack of fluvial movements
Explain an esker
Its a long narrow ridge or mound of sand, gravel and boulders that are deposited by melt-water from tunnels within and below the glacier. Eskers are located on the sides of glaciers after it retreats and are made from sorted material. Braided eskers and single ridge eskers are a thing