Topic 3- Cold Environments

Question 1

What is a cold environment?

Answer 1

Cold environments are areas of land permanently covered by ice. They are covered by glaciers, ice sheets and have frozen soil/rock. The temperature is constantly below freezing.

Question 2

What are the three factors that increase the chance of cold environments in different areas.

Answer 2

Latitude (distance from the equator), Altitude (height above sea level), continentality (how far inland it is).

Question 3

What is a glacier?

Answer 3

A slowly moving mass or river of ice formed by the collection and compaction of snow on mountains or near the poles.

Question 4

What are the two zones that a glacier can be divided into?

Answer 4

The accumulation zone and the ablation zone.

Question 5

What is the accumulation zone of a glacier?

Answer 5

The accumulation zone is where there are inputs into the glacier budget.

Question 6

What is the ablation zone?

Answer 6

The ablation zone is where there are outputs from the glacial budget.

Question 7

What are the inputs into the glacial system?

Answer 7

Input-the main input is snow. As it becomes increasingly compacted over many years, it gradually turns from powder snow to dense glacial blue ice. Avalanches from surrounding mountains sides also provide inputs to the glacial system.

Question 8

What are the processes of the glacial system?

Answer 8

The weight of the compacted ice then combines with gravity to make the glacier move slowly downhill. As it does so, it transports sediment that has dropped onto it-and also erodes its valley (processes in the system)

Question 9

What are the outputs of the glacial system?

Answer 9

The main outputs from the system include ice and meltwater- together with vast amounts of sediment.

Question 10

What is the equilibrium line of a glacier?

Answer 10

The equilibrium line separates the ablation zone and the accumulation zone; it is the altitude where the amount of new snow gained by accumulation is equal to the amount of ice lost through ablation.

Question 11

Why do glaciers advance and retreat?

Answer 11

If the inputs, accumulation zone, or the outputs, the ablation zone, are bigger than the other one than it will either retreat or advance, depending on which one is bigger.

Question 12

If the inputs, accumulation zone, are bigger than the outputs, ablation zone, will the glacier advance or retreat?

Answer 12

Advance as the inputs outweigh the outputs.

Question 13

If the outputs, ablation zone, are bigger than the inputs, accumulation zone, will the glacier advance or retreat?

Answer 13

Retreat as the outputs outweigh the inputs.

Question 14

If the inputs and outputs of a glacier are the same, will it advance or retreat?

Answer 14

It will neither advance or retreat, only stay in the same position. This is because the inputs and outputs are equal.

Question 15

What is a corrie?

Answer 15

A corrie- a rounded hollow on the side of a mountain with a steep wall at the back. They often contain a lake.

Question 16

Wha is glacial erosion?

Answer 16

Glacial erosion- the process of breaking rock apart by a glacier.

Question 17

What is a moraine?

Answer 17

Moraine- piles of rock left behind when a glacier melts.

Question 18

What is freeze-thaw?

Answer 18

Freeze-thaw= water gets trapped into cracks in rock. When the temperature drops it freezes and expands. This helps crack open the rock. When the temperature rises, the ice will melt. This happens repeatedly and breaks off rock leaving a rough surface.

Question 19

What is plucking?

Answer 19

When a glacier moves, rock that is frozen to the base gets pulled from the ground, leaving behind a jagged landscape.

Question 20

What is abrasion?

Answer 20

Abrasion= when loose rocks become embedded in the base of a glacier and rub against the ground underneath, wearing it away.

Question 21

How does the glacial budget vary throughout the year?

Answer 21

The glacial budget varies during the course of a year. In the summer, ablation will be at its highest, because of rapid melting of ice. During winter, higher amounts of snowfall and limited melting will result in accumulation being greater than ablation.

Question 22

Give six key features of a corrie?

Answer 22

Arm chair shape (3 steep sides), steep back wall, shattered rock, deep tarn lake, rock lip-higher land, and a waterfall

Question 23

How many stages are there in the formation of a corrie?

Answer 23

Eight stages

Question 24

Expalin the formation of a corrie?

Answer 24

a) snow collects in hollows, b) snow compacts to ice, c) ice moves under gravity, softened by meltwater, d) ice rotates and leaves lip where less erosion has occurred, e) abrasion deepens corrie, f) plucking steepens back and sides, g)freeze-thaw makes the edges of the corrie rigid and rough h) ice melts and corrie lake/tarn may fill hollow.

Question 25

What is an arête?

Answer 25

Arêtes are knifed edged ridges formed between two corries.

Question 26

Explain the formation of an arête?

Answer 26

It is formed when two neighbouring corries run back to back. As each glacier erodes either side of the ridge, the edge becomes steeper and the ridge becomes narrower

Question 27

What is a pyramid peak?

Answer 27

A pyramidal peak can be a small peak on a mountain ridge, or a large mountain peak formed by glacier activity. A large pyramidal peak is sometimes called a horn.

Question 28

Explain the formation of a pyramid peak?

Answer 28

A pyramidal peak is formed where three or more corries and arêtes meet. The glaciers have carved away at the top of a mountain, creating a sharply pointed summit

Question 29

Why does a small glacier eventually form?

Answer 29

Snow accumulates in sheltered hollow and becomes compacted.

Question 30

Why is the back wall of a corrie very steep?

Answer 30

Due to plucking and freeze-thaw weathering.

Question 31

How does the glacier in a corrie move?

Answer 31

Under its own weight in a circular way called rotational movement/slip

Question 32

How is the hollow of a corrie deepened?

Answer 32

By plucking and abrasion.

Question 33

Why does a lip form at the front of a corrie?

Answer 33

There is less erosion at the front of the corrie.

Question 34

Once the ice has melted what often forms in the hollow?

Answer 34

A tarn/lake

Question 35

How is a U shaped valley formed?

Answer 35

U-shaped valleys are formed by the process of glaciation. Glaciated valleys are formed when a glacier travels across and down a slope, carving the valley by the action of scouring.

Question 36

How is a V shaped valley formed?

Answer 36

When a river is near its source, it often develops a V-shaped valley as the river erodes down (this is called vertical erosion).