Question 1: Explain the process of how a glacier forms from accumulated snow over many years.

Answer: Snow accumulates in a cold environment, compresses into ice over time, and gradually develops into a glacier through compaction and recrystallization.

Question 2: Describe two landforms that are created by glacial erosion.

Answer: Examples include a U-shaped valley and a cirque. A U-shaped valley is formed by the glacier eroding a river valley, creating a wide, deep valley with steep sides, while a cirque is an armchair-shaped hollow carved into the mountainside.

Question 3: What is the difference between plucking and abrasion in glacial erosion? Provide a brief explanation for each.

Answer: Plucking occurs when a glacier lifts and removes chunks of bedrock as it moves, while abrasion involves the glacier's load of rocks grinding against the bedrock, wearing it down.

Question 4: Identify and describe the formation of a landform known as a ‘hanging valley’.

Answer: A hanging valley forms when a smaller glacier joins a larger glacier, and after glacial retreat, the smaller valley remains elevated above the main valley, often with a waterfall.

Question 5: Sketch a simple cross-section of a glacier showing the main features such as the accumulation zone, ablation zone, and the ice movement direction.

Answer: A correct sketch should depict a sloping glacier with the upper part labeled as the accumulation zone, the lower part as the ablation zone, and arrows indicating ice flowing from the accumulation zone to the terminus.

Question 6: Explain how a lateral moraine is formed and where it is typically located in a glacial landscape.

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Question 7: Describe the process by which a cirque glacier might develop into a valley glacier.

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Question 8: What are the main differences between a fjord and a U-shaped valley? Use verbal descriptions to compare their formation and appearance.

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Question 9: Identify three ways that climate change is affecting glaciers today.

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Question 10: Describe how the process of ablation contributes to the retreat of a glacier.

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