Glaciation

AI generated active recall cues and questions based off pdf notes on glaciation found on knowt.

Question / Term (Cue)

Answer

What is an Ice Age?

A period when large parts of several continents were covered by ice sheets.

When was the last Ice Age?

Between 1,000,000 and 10,000 years ago.

How do glaciers form?

Snow and ice accumulate and compact together to form masses of ice called glaciers.

Where do glaciers form?

In upland areas, moving downslope.

What happens when glaciers join together?

They form ice sheets.

What causes an Ice Age?

Three factors acting together: changes in Earth’s orbit, changes in the tilt of Earth’s axis, and Earth’s wobble on its axis.

How does Earth’s orbit affect Ice Ages?

When the orbit changes from elliptical to circular, it can affect temperature and glaciation.

How does the Earth’s axis affect Ice Ages?

When the poles tilt further from the sun, temperatures drop.

How does Earth’s wobble affect Ice Ages?

If the wobble makes Earth tilt away from the sun, it gets colder.

What is plucking?

A process where ice melts at the glacier’s base due to friction, refreezes, and plucks up pieces of rock.

What is abrasion?

The process where plucked rocks scratch and scrape the ground, creating striations.

What are striations?

Scratch marks left on rock by glacial abrasion.

Where are landforms of glacial erosion generally found?

In upland areas.

What are examples of landforms of glacial erosion?

Cirques, Arêtes, Pyramidal Peaks, U-Shaped Valleys, Ribbon Lakes, Hanging Valleys, Fjords.

What is a U-Shaped Valley?

A V-shaped valley that was straightened and flattened by a large glacier.

What is a Cirque (or Corrie)?

A large hollow on the side of a mountain with three steep sides; the birthplace of a glacier.

What is a Tarn?

A small lake inside a Cirque.

What is a Pyramidal Peak?

A steep-sided, pyramid-shaped mountain eroded on all sides by cirques.

What is an Arête?

A narrow, steep-sided ridge between two cirques.

What is a Ribbon Lake?

A long, narrow lake occupying the floor of a glaciated valley.

What are Paternoster Lakes?

A series of ribbon lakes linked together.

What is a Truncated Spur?

An interlocking spur eroded and cut off as a glacier moves through the valley.

What is a Hanging Valley?

A smaller tributary valley that hangs above the main glaciated valley.

How is a cirque formed?

Snow accumulates in a mountain hollow, compresses into ice, which plucks and abrades the rock, deepening the hollow. Eventually, it overflows and moves downhill.

What is an example of a cirque?

The Devil’s Punchbowl, Co. Kerry.

What are features of glacial deposition?

Drumlins, Eskers, Boulder Clay Plains, Erratics, Moraines, Outwash Plains.

What is a Drumlin?

An oval-shaped hill made of boulder clay, formed by glacial meltwater deposits that are shaped and smoothed by glacier movement.

Example of a Drumlin location?

Clew Bay, Co. Mayo.

What are Erratics?

Large boulders transported by glaciers and deposited where the rock type differs from their source.

Example of Erratics in Ireland?

Granite boulders in the Burren, Co. Clare — transported from North County Galway.

What are benefits of glaciation for agriculture?

Boulder clay creates fertile soil, e.g. The Golden Vale.

What are tourism benefits of glaciation?

Glaciated landscapes form beautiful scenery, e.g. Glendalough, The Burren.

How does glaciation help hydroelectricity?

Glacial lakes can be used for hydroelectric power, e.g. Turlough Hill.

How does glaciation benefit road construction?

Glacial valleys provide natural routeways, e.g. Gap of Dunloe.

How does glaciation benefit industry?

Eskers supply sand and gravel for construction; glacial lakes provide water supply.

What are negative impacts of glaciation on agriculture?

Upland areas often have poor soil cover removed by glaciers — unsuitable for crops.

What is the impact of glaciation on drainage?

Glacial deposits (like drumlins) can cause poor drainage and bog formation.

How does melting of glaciers affect the environment today?

It leads to rising sea levels and increased flooding due to melting Arctic and Antarctic ice caps.