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Geography Notes Unit 13

Glaciers are large masses of slowly moving ice that form in areas with high snowfall and low temperatures. They erode land as they move and form landforms like U-shaped valleys and moraines. There are three types of glacial processes: weathering, erosion, and transportation of debris. Glaciers play an important role in supplying freshwater and influence climate cycles.

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65 views

Geography Notes Unit 13

Glaciers are large masses of slowly moving ice that form in areas with high snowfall and low temperatures. They erode land as they move and form landforms like U-shaped valleys and moraines. There are three types of glacial processes: weathering, erosion, and transportation of debris. Glaciers play an important role in supplying freshwater and influence climate cycles.

Uploaded by

nesuxc
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Geography Notes (Glaciers, Landforms)

Glaciers -> Large masses of slowly moving ice compressed in ice with
rock and sediments over many years
-> made of -> Snow
-> Ice
-> Rock
-> Sediments
-> Erodes and forms new landforms -> as it goes down (due to
gravity)
-> Formed -> when snow builds up over many years and
becomes compressed in ice
-> on land with freshwater precipitation
-> at regions with high altitude, high mountains, large
snowfall
-> Move downhill -> due to gravity
-> 10% of the Earth
-> Supplies -> 75% of Earth’s freshwater
-> 3 Types -> Alphine glaciers, ice sheets, icebergs
-> Found at -> Cold regions
-> High altitude regions
-> Regions with large snowfall
-> the poles (polar regions)

Sea ice -> frozen seawater


-> floats on ocean surface

Ice accumulation (gain) > Ice ablation (melt) -> Glacier increases and
advances
Ice accumulation (gain) < Ice ablation (melt) -> Glacier decreases and
retreats
Ice Age -> a period of time where temperatures drop
-> glaciers advance (covers 1/3 of Earth)
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Interglacial -> warmer break between 2 ice ages
-> glaciers retreat and decreases

Glaciologist -> People who study glaciers


Snout -> end of glacier
-> water is released from/retreats from here

Crevasse -> crack in glacier


-> caused by movement

Weathering -> breaking down of


Abrasion -> grinding or wearing away of due to friction

3 types of Glacial processes:


-> Weathering (Freeze-thaw weathering) -> weakens bedrock
-> Erosion (plucking, abrasion) -> forms -> U-shaped valley, Truncated
spurs, fjords, misfit rivers
ribbon lakes, hanging valleys,
waterfalls, corries, tarn
-> Transportation (deposition) -> leaves Moraine, Meltwater (Glacial till)

Freeze-thaw weathering -> when melted snow enter cracks in rocks


-> this water freezes (expanding the crack)
-> frozen water melts
-> repeats until rock is broken
Plucking -> when rocks are frozen onto glaciers
-> plucked off bedrock as glaciers move downhill

Abrasion -> when rocks frozen onto glaciers scrape rocks beneath
-> creates a smooth surface
Deposition -> Glaciers carry rock and ice as they move downhill
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Moraine/Glacial Till -> debris carried by glaciers
-> deposited when glaciers melt
Striations -> straight grooves left in rock from glacier
V-shaped valleys (Interlocking spurs) -> Series of overlapping ridges in
V-shaped valleys
U-shaped valleys (truncated spurs) -> glacier cuts through interlocking
spurs
-> leaves -> truncated spurs
-> hanging valleys
-> waterfalls
Misfit river -> stream that flows into U-shaped valley after ice melts
Ribbon lake -> large narrow lake occupying U-shaped valley after ice
melts
Fjord -> long strip of sea between steep hills
-> when sea fills glaciated U-shaped valley

Corrie -> Steep-back hollow on the mountainside


-> where glaciers form
-> form when snow collects in a hollow on the side of a mountain
and compacts into ice
-> back wall of Corrie gets steeper due to -> Freeze-thaw
weathering, plucking
-> base of Corrie gets steeper due to -> abrasion
(Glacier moves out of the hollow as it gets heavier)

Aretes -> edges between 2 cories

Waterfalls -> found at hanging valleys

Tarn -> Lake formed in a Corrie after glaciers melt


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3 Types of Glacial Till:


-> Lateral (sides) -> found along edges of glacier
-> Medial (middle)
-> Terminal (end)
Erratic -> large rocks carried and deposited by glacier as part of moraine
-> made up of rock type different from the area
Outwash Plains -> flat land in front of melting glaciers where streams and
water flow
-> deposits debris away from the glacier
Drumlin (Elongated Hills) -> egg-shaped hills
-> formed when glacier moves under moving ice
Pyramidal peaks -> 3-4 Corries that develop around a mountain

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