2.a glacial processes + land forms

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111 Terms

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freeze-thaw (physical weathering)
water enters rock cracks -\> expands when refreezes -\> exerts pressure on rock -\> rock splits/breaks off
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frost shattering (weathering)
water trapped in rock pores -\> freezes -\> expands -\> repeating freezing and thawing -\> rock joints weaken and widen -\> rock breaks into small particles away from main body of rock
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oxidation
oxygen combines with another substance to create oxides which breaks rocks apart
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oxidation - rock
sandstone (iron rich material)
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carbonation
water mixes with CO2 to make carbonic acid which reacts with rocks making them easily crumble
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carbonation - rock
limestone or chalk
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solution
minerals soluble in water, dissolve, wreaking structure of rock
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solution - rock
limestone
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hydrolysis
chemical reaction between rock minerals and acidic water to create other materials
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hydrolysis - rock
granite -\> clay
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hydration
water reacts with minerals, rock absorbs water making it suffer
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hydration - rock
anhydride -\> gypsum
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factors influencing rates of weathering
- rock type
- climate
- vegetation
- climate change
- aspect
- location
- altitude
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mass movement examples
-rock fall
-sliding
-slumping
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rock fall
rocks become detached by physical weathering processes and fall to create scree slopes
rocks become detached by physical weathering processes and fall to create scree slopes
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sliding
movement downhill (blocks of rock) along a straight-line slip plane
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slumping
slides may occur due to steepening under-cutting of valley sides by erosion at the base of the slope
slides may occur due to steepening under-cutting of valley sides by erosion at the base of the slope
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plucking (erosion)
meltwater in joints of rocks -\> freezes -\> attach to glacier -\> glacier advance -\> pluck rock
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abrasion (erosion)
debris embedded in base/side of glacier -\> rock moves in ice under force of gravity -\> scrapes/indents valley floor/sides in glacier as it moves
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example of a corrie
The Walcott Corrie, Antartica, 3km high back wall
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example of an arete
Striding Edge, Lake District, 200-300km high
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example of a pyramidal peak
Matterhorn, Swiss Alps, over 1200m high
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example of a roche moutonnee
Norfolk Island, Lake District
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example of a glacial trough
Glen ridding Valley, Lake District
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example of a ribbon lake
Ullswater, Lake District
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example of a hanging valley
Helvellyn Gill, Lake District
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example of a truncated spur
Walls Crag, Lake District
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lodgement till
material deposited by moving ice when its weight becomes too heavy to move
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ablation till
material which is deposited directly at the end of the glacier by water melting when the ice is stagnant
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moraines
deposits of glacial till
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ground moraine
unsorted material left all over ground as glacier retreats up valley in warmer times (lodgement till)
unsorted material left all over ground as glacier retreats up valley in warmer times (lodgement till)
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terminal moraine
rocks deposited (ablation till) in a ridge at max advance of ice
rocks deposited (ablation till) in a ridge at max advance of ice
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lateral moraine
ridges from valley sides and run parallel to them
ridges from valley sides and run parallel to them
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medial moraine
ridge of rocks running down the middle of a valley formed by 2 lateral moraines from 2 glaciers coming together
ridge of rocks running down the middle of a valley formed by 2 lateral moraines from 2 glaciers coming together
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recessional moraine
ridges parallel to terminal moraines marking the retreat of a glacier (ablation till) - the less time the glacier was stagnant the less material there will be
ridges parallel to terminal moraines marking the retreat of a glacier (ablation till) - the less time the glacier was stagnant the less material there will be
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push moraine
mounds of material found where a drop in temp or increase in precipitation allows glacial re-advance and the glacier pushes previously deposited moraines forward
mounds of material found where a drop in temp or increase in precipitation allows glacial re-advance and the glacier pushes previously deposited moraines forward
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till plains
large expanse of gently rolling hills of till - forms when a large mass of unstratified drift is deposited at the end of an ice sheet when it detaches from the main body of a claire and melts
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erratics
large rocks or boulder that have been picked up (plucked) by a glacier or ice sheet, transported and deposited in a new area
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drumlins
half-egg shaped hills of till
half-egg shaped hills of till
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example of an erratic
Norber erratics, Yorkshire Dales
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example of a drumlin
Vale of Eden, Lake District
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transportation
- rockfall
- avalanches
- debris flow
- aeolian deposits
- volcanic eruptions
- plucking
- abrasion
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subglacial debris
embedded in the base of the glacier
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supraglacial debris
carried on the surface of a glacier
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englacial debris
debris within the ice
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erosional landforms
-corries
-arêtes
-pyramidal peaks
-troughs
-roche moutonnee
-striations
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depositional landforms
-terminal moraine
-lateral moraine
-recessional moraine
-erratic
-drumlin
-till plain
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folding
the bending of rock layers due to stress
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faulting
process of cracking that occurs when the folded land cannot be bent any further
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geomorphic processes
-erosion
-weathering (physical, biological and chemical weathering)
-mass movement
-transportation
-deposition
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conditions for physical weathering
high altitude/low latitude for variation in temperatures to allow for melting and freezing
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pressure release (physical weathering)
weight of overlying ice in a glacier is lost due to melting -\> underlying rock expands -\> rock fractures parallel to the surface -\> significant exposure of sub-surface rocks -\> these rocks are more susceptible to other forms of weathering e.g. freeze thaw
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where in a glacial system will pressure release most likely occur
areas where ice has retreated
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biological weathering
weathering of rocks caused by tree roots or the decomposition of plant and animal matter
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chelation
the organic acid produced by decomposition that reacts with rocks
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significance of biological weathering
not significant in glacial regions - more in tundra/periglacial regions and only in summer
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chemical weathering makes rocks more prone to...
erosion later on
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conditions for chemical weathering
high altitude/low latitude - variations in temperature as it needs water present to react with rocks
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rotational movement (erosion)
occurs in a corrie -\> downhill movement of ice pivoting around a point and overdeepening at that point -\> enables abrasion and plucking to take place
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solifluction (weathering)
base of the glacier where ice melt through friction occurs -\> eroded material is carried along under the glacier -\> debris is accumulated in glacier and alter deposited
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rock conditions for effective plucking
when the rock is jointed or previously weathered and requires the presence of meltwater
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abrasion requires...
meltwater for movement to occur and so is less effective in cold-based glaciers
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difference between abrasion and plucking
abrasion is scratching while plucking is the removal of chunks of rock

abrasion in glaciers require rocks to erode the valley while plucking is the use of meltwater to carry rock fragments
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3 factors influencing the rate of abrasion
amount of basal debris, speed of ice movement (steepness and meltwater), debris size and volume
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how does steepness influence the rate of abrasion
increased steepness -\> increased speed of ice movement -\> friction is greater
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the more basal debris in a glacier, the rate of abrasion will be...
...higher
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the rate of abrasion by cold based glacier is...
...low as no meltwater means little movement
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how does debris size and shape influence the rate of abrasion
larger and sharper rocks will abrade more
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basal water pressure
in warm based glaciers there is presence of meltwater underneath and the pressure is increased by the height of the glacier and so the basal pressure will move the water quicker
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nivation occurs...
...when snow starts to accumulate
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nivation
weathering such as freeze thaw and erosion such as abrasion combined
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nivation over time leads to...
...nivation hollows
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nivation hollows
shallow pits as a result of nivation
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how nivation hollows develop into corries
pits trap more snow -\> more compression of snow -\> increase pressure -\> compacted snow and ice -\> deepen further to form a corrie
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how rock type influences rate of weathering
rock with a weak structure is more prone to physical weathering

chemical weathering can only occur in certain types of rocks
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types of chemical weathering
oxidation, carbonation, solution, hydrolysis and hydration
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how climate influences rate of weathering
glaciated regions -\> colder, slightly drier locations will be more prone to physical weathering

non glaciated regions -\> warmer, slightly wetter locations will be more prone to chemical weathering
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how vegetation influences rate of weathering
more vegetation (in non glaciated regions) -\> enhances biological weathering
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how climate change influences rate of weathering
increase burning of fossil fuels -\> more CO2 -\> more carbonation

warmer temperatures -\> more melting -\> more chemical weathering

warmer temperatures -\> more vegetation -\> more biological weathering
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how aspect influences rate of weathering
face away from sun -\> colder -\> more physical weathering

face toward the sun -\> fluctuating temperatures around 0C -\> more freeze-thaw weathering
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how location influences rate of weathering
high latitudes -\> less chemical weathering / some physical weathering / weathering will be slower

high altitudes, low latitudes -\> more chemical weathering or freeze-thaw weathering will dominate

location determines the amount of precipitation
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how altitude influences rate of weathering
higher the altitude -\> colder it will be -\> less chemical weathering

higher temperatures -\> more chemical weathering
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corrie characteristics
-armchair shaped hollow
-steep back wall
-over deepened basin with a lip at the front
-armchair shaped hollow
-steep back wall
-over deepened basin with a lip at the front
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corrie formation

1. snow (input) falls and accumulates and nivation deepens the hollow it collects in
2. over time the hollow enlarges and contains more snow which is eventually compressed into glacier ice
3. the ice acquires a rotational movement under its own weight which enlarges the hollow further - meanwhile the rotational movement causes plucking of the back wall, making it increasingly steep
4. the debris derived from plucking and weathering above the hollow falls into the Bergschrund crevasse which steepens the back wall and abrades the hollow deepening it
5. once the hollow has deepened, the thinner ice at the front is unable to erode so rapidly and so a higher lip is left
6. post-glacial landscape the corrie may become filled with water forming a small lake or tarn

1. snow (input) falls and accumulates and nivation deepens the hollow it collects in
2. over time the hollow enlarges and contains more snow which is eventually compressed into glacier ice
3. the ice acquires a rotational movement under its own weight which enlarges the hollow further - meanwhile the rotational movement causes plucking of the back wall, making it increasingly steep
4. the debris derived from plucking and weathering above the hollow falls into the Bergschrund crevasse which steepens the back wall and abrades the hollow deepening it
5. once the hollow has deepened, the thinner ice at the front is unable to erode so rapidly and so a higher lip is left
6. post-glacial landscape the corrie may become filled with water forming a small lake or tarn
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role of energy in corrie formation?
* gravitational potential energy → rotational movement
* kinetic energy → less of it so forms a higher lip as hollow deepens
* heat/solar energy → small circular lake or tarn
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arête characteristics
-narrow, steep-sided ridge found between two corries
-knife-edged
-narrow, steep-sided ridge found between two corries
-knife-edged
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arête formation
1. corrie formation
2. 2 corries form side by side and erode backwards into the mountain, narrowing the peak
1. corrie formation
2. 2 corries form side by side and erode backwards into the mountain, narrowing the peak
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role of geomorphic processes in the formation of aretes
corrie

* weathering
* erosion: plucking and abrasion
* deposition

arête

* erosion: two corries retreat + slopes steepen to form a sharp ridge
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pyramidal peak characteristics
-sharp-edged mountain peak
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pyramidal peak formation
1. three or more arêtes/corries form back to back around a mountain top and their back walls retreat to create a peak
2. nivation and weathering of the peak may further sharpen its shape
1. three or more arêtes/corries form back to back around a mountain top and their back walls retreat to create a peak
2. nivation and weathering of the peak may further sharpen its shape
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roche moutonnee characteristics
-smooth
-streamlined by abrasions
-straitions
-rock hill shaped
-smooth
-streamlined by abrasions
-straitions
-rock hill shaped
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roche moutonnee formation
1. resistant rock found on valley floor which advancing ice passes over
2. localised pressure melting occurs and abrasion on the up-valley side (stoss) -\> smooth rock with striations
3. on the down-valley side (lee) pressure is reduced and meltwater re-freezes, resulting in plucking and the steeping of the rock
1. resistant rock found on valley floor which advancing ice passes over
2. localised pressure melting occurs and abrasion on the up-valley side (stoss) -\> smooth rock with striations
3. on the down-valley side (lee) pressure is reduced and meltwater re-freezes, resulting in plucking and the steeping of the rock
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glacial trough formation

1. glaciers flow down pre-existing V-shaped river valleys under gravity - the mass of the ice has far more erosive power than a river and so erodes the sides and floor of the valley
2. as it moves (gravitational potential energy) it plucks the rock from beneath and those rocks rub against (abrasion) the bed of valley, eroding it further making the shape become deeper, wider and straighter

its long profile is a realist of compressing flows making the valley over-deepened to form rock basins and rocks steps, particularly evident where there are alternating bands of rock of different resistances on the valley floor (the weaker rocks being eroded more rapidly to form the basins)

1. glaciers flow down pre-existing V-shaped river valleys under gravity - the mass of the ice has far more erosive power than a river and so erodes the sides and floor of the valley
2. as it moves (gravitational potential energy) it plucks the rock from beneath and those rocks rub against (abrasion) the bed of valley, eroding it further making the shape become deeper, wider and straighter

its long profile is a realist of compressing flows making the valley over-deepened to form rock basins and rocks steps, particularly evident where there are alternating bands of rock of different resistances on the valley floor (the weaker rocks being eroded more rapidly to form the basins)
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glacial trough characteristics
-U-shaped valley
-deep
-wide
-straight
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hanging valley formation
smaller/tributary valleys feed into the main valley as they have been eroded slower and shallower - sit between truncated spurs
smaller/tributary valleys feed into the main valley as they have been eroded slower and shallower - sit between truncated spurs
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truncated spur characteristics
-steep-sided
-wide
-relatively flat-bottomed
-steep-sided
-wide
-relatively flat-bottomed
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truncated spur formation
1. a river flows through the landscape, creating interlocking spurs.
2. interlocking spurs are truncated as the glacier cuts straight through the landscape by the processes of abrasion, plucking freeze-thaw.
3. the truncated spurs can then be identified by the exposed rock found on valley sides. They will continue to steepen after glaciation due to freeze-thaw
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ribbon lake characteristics
- long, narrow lake
- found in the bottom of a glacial trough
- long, narrow lake
- found in the bottom of a glacial trough
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ribbon lake formation
1. extending and compressing flows causes the valley floor to over deepen at a variety of erosional rates due to thicker ice or areas of softer rock
2. this means that some parts of the valley floor are over deepened creating ribbon lakes
1. extending and compressing flows causes the valley floor to over deepen at a variety of erosional rates due to thicker ice or areas of softer rock
2. this means that some parts of the valley floor are over deepened creating ribbon lakes
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striations formation
scratches or grooves made by debris embedded in the base of the glacier - abrasion is the key process