Question 1: Describe the process of ice accumulation in a glacier. What conditions are necessary for a glacier to form?

Answer: Ice accumulation occurs when snowfall exceeds melting and sublimation, leading to the build-up of ice over time. Conditions necessary include cold temperatures, high snowfall, and areas at high altitude or latitude.

Question 2: Explain the difference between the processes of plucking and abrasion in glacial erosion.

Answer: Plucking occurs when a glacier freezes onto a rock and pulls pieces away as the glacier moves. Abrasion happens when the debris embedded in the ice scrapes and wears down the bedrock beneath the glacier, acting like sandpaper.

Question 3: Identify and describe two landforms that are created by glacial erosion.

Answer: U-shaped valleys are formed when glaciers carve out a valley, creating a broad, rounded bottom with steep sides. Fjords are drowned glacial valleys that have been filled with seawater after the glacier melts.

Question 4: Describe the process of how a corrie (cirque) forms.

Answer: A corrie forms when snow accumulates in a hollow on a mountainside. Over time, the snow compacts into ice and erodes the depression through freeze-thaw action and plucking, creating a bowl-shaped feature with a steep back wall.

Question 5: Sketch a diagram of a typical glacial landform showing the following features: a glacier, a U-shaped valley, and a hanging valley. Label each part.

Answer: A correct sketch would show a large glacier occupying a U-shaped valley, with a smaller tributary glacier entering from a side, ending at a higher elevation, indicating a hanging valley. Labels should clearly identify the glacier, U-shaped valley, and hanging valley.

Question 6: Explain how a terminal moraine is formed during glacial retreat.

Answer: A terminal moraine forms when a glacier deposits debris at its furthest extent, marking the maximum point of advance. As the ice melts, the debris is left piled up at the front of the glacier.

Question 7: Describe the climatic conditions that are most conducive to the formation of glaciers.

Answer: Cold temperatures, high snowfall rates, and persistent low temperatures are conducive to glacier formation, especially at high altitudes or latitudes where melting is minimal.

Question 8: Identify and explain two ways in which glaciers contribute to landscape change after they melt.

Answer: Glaciers deposit till and form new landforms such as moraines and drumlins. They also erode the landscape to create features like valleys, fjords, and other U-shaped valleys, significantly reshaping the terrain.

Question 9: Sketch the cross-section of a glacier showing the ice surface, the base, and the zone where melting occurs. Indicate the movement of ice within the glacier.

Answer: A correct sketch would show the ice surface with a downward slope, the base of the glacier in contact with bedrock, and a zone near the surface where melting occurs. Arrows should indicate the movement of ice flowing from the accumulation zone toward the terminus.

Question 10: What are the main differences between a glacier's accumulation zone and ablation zone?

Answer: The accumulation zone is the upper part of a glacier where snow and ice accumulate, while the ablation zone is the lower part where melting, sublimation, and calving occur, leading to ice loss.