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16 Terms
1
What are the main types of snow?
The four main types of snow are: individual ice crystals, névé, firn, and glacial ice.
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2
What is névé?
Névé is a granular type of snow that has been partially melted and can contribute to glacier formation.
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3
Define firn.
Firn is a type of snow that has been recrystallized into a denser substance that is denser than névé and eventually becomes glacial ice.
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4
What is the equilibrium-line altitude (ELA)?
The ELA marks the area on a glacier where accumulation is balanced by ablation over a one-year period.
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5
What causes ablation in glaciers?
Ablation is caused by processes such as sublimation, fusion or melting, and evaporation.
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6
Name two key processes involved in glacial flow.
Basal sliding and internal deformation.
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7
How do glaciers flow?
Glaciers flow due to gravity, primarily through basal sliding, internal deformation, and bed deformation.
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8
What is a valley glacier?
A valley glacier is a stream of flowing ice confined within steep-walled valleys, usually following the course of an ancient river valley.
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9
What are ogives?
Ogives are alternating crests and valleys in glacier ice that appear as dark and light bands of ice, linked to the seasonal movement of a glacier.
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10
Define crevasses.
Crevasses are deep cracks or fractures in a glacier formed when ice undergoes brittle deformation due to extreme stress.
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11
What is thermal regime in glacial studies?
The thermal regime is a classification of glaciers based on the temperature at the base, distinguishing between cold-based and warm-based glaciers.
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12
What types of landforms result from glacial erosion?
Erosional landforms include cirques, U-shaped valleys, hanging valleys, arêtes, and horns.
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13
What are terminal moraines?
Terminal moraines are ridges of glacial debris deposited at the end of a glacier.
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14
What is marine ice sheet instability?
Marine ice sheet instability occurs when rising temperatures cause ice sheets that lie below sea level to collapse, a significant issue in West Antarctica.
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15
How are proglacial lakes formed?
Proglacial lakes are freshwater bodies formed behind a moraine or ice dam left by a retreating glacier.
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16
Describe the function of ablation stakes.
Ablation stakes are used to measure the rates of accumulation and ablation on a glacier.
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