Geology Review Q4

LANDSLIDES/MASS WASTING, GROUNDWATER MOVEMENT, GLACIERS, CLIMATE CHANGE

Brittle-Plastic Transition

Glacier flow: surface ice cracks and forms crevasses, continues to slide as glacier moves

Plastic Deformation

Glacier flow: ice is melting under own weight, causes water at water for glacier to slide on, deforms the most at bottom

Glacier Flow

Movement of glaciers through plastic deformation and brittle-plastic transition

Firn Line/Equilibrium Line

Mass balance: MAT = 0*C, no gain/loss is recorded in glacier

Zone of Ablation

Mass balance: MAT > 0*C, snow melts and forms runoff through crevasses, below firn line

Zone of Accumulation

Mass balance, MAT < 0*C, snow collects and glaciers are formed/moved, above firn line

Mass Balance

Glacier formation or loss through melting or gathering of snow

Firn

Compacted granular snow, metamorphosized under own weight to cause glacial movement

Ice

By definition, a metamorphosized sedimentary rock from snow

Ice Cap

Glacier types: Ice not conformed to a valley, flows down & out through a high point (Iceland)

Ice Sheet

Glacier types: Large ice cap (Antarctica)

Valley Glacier

Glacier types: Glacier confined to valley, flows from high to low (Matanuska AK)

Piedmont Glacier

Glacier types: V