what physical factors can influence glaciers?

Question 1

what are the three ways climate can influence glaciated landscapes

Answer 1

wind, precipitation and temperature

Question 2

how can wind influence glaciated landscapes

Answer 2

Aeolian (transportation, deposition and erosion by wind)

Question 3

how can precipitation influence glaciated landscapes

Answer 3

precipitation is a key factor in determining mass balance, it is a main input of snow and sleet

Question 4

how can temperature influence glaciated landscapes

Answer 4

key factor in determining mass balance, if temperatures rise above zero, outputs such as melting and calving will become rife

Question 5

what are the two elements of geology that are important to consider in terms of their influence on glaciated landscapes

Answer 5

lithology and structure

Question 6

what is lithology

Answer 6

physical and chemical composition of rocks

Question 7

what is structure (geology)

Answer 7

properties of an individual rock type such as jointing, bedding or faulting, also includes the permeability of rocks

Question 8

what is meant by the term weak lithology and what is an example of a rock type that is characterised by its weak lithology

Answer 8

the bonds between the particles that make up the rock are weak. Clay has weak lithology, meaning that it has little resistance to erosion, weathering and mass movements.

Question 9

what is an example of a rock with strong lithology

Answer 9

Basalt. made of dense interlocking crystals, making it highly resistant and more likely to form prominent landforms such as aretes and pyramidal peaks

Question 10

what is meant by the term primary permeability

Answer 10

tiny air spaces separate the mineral particles. these pores can absorb and store water easily.

Question 11

what is an example of a porous rock with primary permeability

Answer 11

chalk

Question 12

what is meant by secondary permeability

Answer 12

many joints that water can seep into

Question 13

what is an example of a rock with secondary permeability

Answer 13

carboniferous limestone

Question 14

what is meant by the term strata

Answer 14

a layer or layers of rock in the ground

Question 15

what are the four physical components that can influence glaciated landscapes

Answer 15

climate, geology, relief and aspect, altitude and latitude

Question 16

how will high latitudes influence glaciated landscapes

Answer 16

above 66.5 degrees north and south of the equator, only cold based glaciers will be able to form due to the cold, dry climates with little seasonal variation

Question 17

how will high altitude locations influence glaciated landscapes

Answer 17

warm based, dynamic valley glaciers will form here due to the vast seasonal variation and large quantities of inputs and outputs.

Question 18

what will relief and aspect have an influence on

Answer 18

the microclimate and movement of glaciers

Question 19

how might relief influence a glacier

Answer 19

the steeper the relief, the higher the resultant force of gravity thus the glacier will have more energy to move downslope, increasing its erosive power.

Question 20

how might aspect influence glaciers

Answer 20

in areas where aspect is facing away from the sun, temperatures are likely to remain below zero for longer, resulting in a positive mass balance and advance. the opposite is true for areas where aspect faces towards the sun.