Geography 121 - Glaciated Landscapes

Set of flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from Geography 121 lecture on glaciated landscapes.

Geomorphology

Scientific study of the processes that shape landforms.

Glacial Geomorphology

Study of glacial processes that shape landforms.

Landforms

Natural physical features found on the Earth’s surface.

Pleistocene Epoch

A period known as the Ice Age characterized by low temperatures and high snowfall.

Firn Line

The line above which snow persists all year and accumulates to form glaciers.

Cirque

A bowl-shaped, steep-sided depression formed by glacial erosion.

Alpine glacier

Glaciers that occur in mountainous regions, typically moving through valleys.

Moraines

Accumulation of rock debris carried by glaciers and deposited as landforms.

Esker

Long, narrow, sinuous ridges formed by glacial meltwater deposits.

Drumlin

Large elongated mounds of glacial till that are typically egg-shaped.

Glacial Drift

All varieties of rock debris deposited by glaciers.

Zone of Accumulation

The area where snow and ice accumulate and feed the glacier.

Zone of Ablation

The area where snow and ice loss occurs through melting or evaporation.

Glacial Landform

Result from erosion and deposition traced to glacial ice or its meltwater (fluvioglacial)

Alpine/Mountain Landform

A type of glacial landform created by the action of glaciers in mountainous regions, characterized by features such as cirques, aretes, and horns. (EROSION). Moraines are created by deposition.

Continental Landform

A type of glacial landform formed by the movement of ice sheets over large areas, resulting in features like drumlins, eskers, and kettles. These landforms are primarily shaped by both erosion and deposition.

What are the two types of glaciers?

The two types of glaciers are alpine glaciers, which form in mountainous areas, and continental glaciers, which cover vast land areas. These glaciers shape the landscape through their erosion and deposition processes.

What is Stratified Drift?

Stratified drift refers to sediments that have been deposited by glacial meltwater, characterized by their layering and sorting based on grain size. This occurs as meltwater carries debris away from the glacier, leading to distinct stratified layers.

What is Glacial-Till?

Glacial till is unsorted sediment that is directly deposited by glacier ice, consisting of a mix of different-sized particles ranging from clay to boulders. This material is typically found beneath or at the edges of glaciers and indicates the extent of glacial movement.

What is a Terminal Moraine?

a ridge of debris and sediment that is deposited at the furthest advance of a glacier, marking the outer limit of its movement. This accumulation of material often forms a distinct landform, reflecting the glacier's size and dynamics.

Col

forms in a Saddle shaped pass or low point.

Arete

Sharp knife edged ridges, formed between cirque glaciers

Truncated Spur

Ridge descends toward valley floor

Hanging Trough

A U-shaped valley formed by glacial erosion, often with steep sides and a flat bottom.

Fjord

A deep, narrow inlet of the sea between high cliffs or steep slopes, created by glacial erosion.