ROLE OF FROST SHATTERING

Question 1

What is Freeze-thaw weathering

Answer 1

Puts pressure on any cracks in rocks and shatters them.

Question 2

Features created by freeze-thaw

Answer 2

• Block fields
• Tors
• Talus Slopes
• Pro-talus Ramparts
• Rock Glaciers

Question 3

What are Block fields

Answer 3

Accumulations of angular, frost-shattered rock, piled up on flat plateau surfaces.

Question 4

What are Tors

Answer 4

‘crown’ hill tops, that stand out from block fields as thy form where more resistant areas of rock occur, e.g less well jointed rock

Question 5

What are talus Slopes

Answer 5

Formed when rock fragments fall and accumulate on lower slopes or base of cliffs.

Question 6

What are Pro-talus Ramparts

Answer 6

Created if path of snow has settled at base of cliff. When rocks fall, as theyre shattered by frost action, snow patch acts as a buffer.

Rocks settle at base of snow patch, leaving rampart of boulders when snow melts

Question 7

What are Rock Glaciers

Answer 7

Form when large amounts of frost-shattered rock are conjoined with interstitial ice below and move slowly like glaciers, at rates of up to 1m a year