12 - Glacial and Groundwater Systems Flashcards
This deck explores the hidden world of groundwater and the icy regions of the cryosphere. You'll learn about the formation and movement of groundwater, as well as the importance of groundwater as a vital resource. Additionally, you'll discover the characteristics of glaciers and ice sheets, the processes of glacial erosion and deposition, and the impact of climate change on the cryosphere. (30 cards)
Define:
groundwater
Water stored beneath the Earth’s surface in soil and rock layers.
It resides in aquifers and is recharged through infiltration of precipitation.
Explain:
What are three main uses of groundwater?
- Drinking water
- Agricultural irrigation
- Industrial processes
Groundwater supports global food production, human consumption, and manufacturing industries.
Define:
aquifer
A permeable layer of rock or soil that stores and transmits groundwater.
Aquifers can be confined (trapped by impermeable layers) or unconfined (directly recharged by surface water).
Identify:
What layers restrict water flow but store limited groundwater?
Aquitards
Aquitards often lie between aquifers, controlling the movement of water and preventing contamination spread.
Identify:
What is the process called where water moves through soil to refill aquifers?
percolation
Percolation allows water to naturally filter and recharge underground reservoirs.
Identify:
What refers to Earth’s frozen water, like glaciers and ice caps?
Cryosphere
The cryosphere includes all frozen water on Earth, such as glaciers, ice caps, sea ice, and permafrost. It regulates temperature, stores freshwater, and impacts sea levels, playing a key role in climate balance and ecosystem stability.
Enumerate:
What are three major components of the cryosphere?
- Glaciers and Ice Sheets
- Sea Ice
- Permafrost
Glaciers and Ice Sheets: Large masses of ice on land, storing freshwater.
Sea Ice: Frozen ocean water, influencing climate and ecosystems.
Permafrost: Permanently frozen ground, storing carbon and affecting landscapes.
Explain:
Why is the cryosphere important to Earth’s climate?
It reflects sunlight and stores freshwater.
Changes in the cryosphere, such as melting ice, contribute to *rising sea levels *and climate shifts.
True or False:
Groundwater and the cryosphere are completely separate systems.
False
The cryosphere contributes to groundwater recharge through meltwater, linking these systems in Earth’s hydrological cycle.
Explain:
What are three indicators of climate change in the cryosphere?
- Glacier Retreat
- Decreasing Arctic Sea Ice
- Thawing Permafrost
Glacier Retreat: Glaciers are shrinking and losing mass over time.
Decreasing Arctic Sea Ice: The extent of sea ice in the Arctic is reducing annually.
Thawing Permafrost: Permanently frozen ground is melting, releasing greenhouse gases.
Define:
glacier
A large, slow-moving mass of ice formed from compacted snow over time.
Glaciers are found in polar regions and high-altitude areas and act as freshwater reservoirs.
Explain:
What are the two main types of glaciers?
- Alpine Glaciers
- Continental Glaciers
Alpine Glaciers: Glaciers that form in mountainous regions, flowing through valleys.
Continental Glaciers: Vast ice sheets that cover large land areas, like those in Antarctica and Greenland.
Explain:
What are the main parts of a glacier?
- Accumulation Zone
- Ablation Zone
- Terminus
Accumulation Zone: The area where snow collects and compresses into ice.
Ablation Zone: The region where ice is lost through melting or sublimation.
Terminus: The glacier’s endpoint, where it releases water or breaks into icebergs.
True or False:
Glaciers can only form in polar regions.
False
Glaciers also form in high-altitude areas near the equator, such as the Andes and the Himalayas.
Define:
glacial erosion
The process by which glaciers wear away rock and soil as they move.
Glacial erosion reshapes landscapes, creating valleys, fjords, and other features.
True or False:
Glacial erosion can create fjords.
True
Fjords are deep, narrow inlets formed when glaciers retreat and seawater floods the valleys.
Identify:
What process leaves sediments behind as glaciers melt?
Glacial deposition
The materials deposited, known as till, range from fine clay to large boulders, shaping landscapes.
Identify:
What is a smooth, elongated hill formed by glacial deposition?
drumlin
Drumlins indicate the direction of glacier movement and are often found in clusters called drumlin fields.
Explain:
What are three effects of melting glaciers on ecosystems?
- Habitat loss for cold-adapted species.
- Altered freshwater availability downstream.
- Increased sediment flow into rivers and oceans.
Identify:
What is the process of rocks scraping the glacier bed and causing erosion?
abrasion
Abrasion creates striations, or grooves, on rock surfaces, revealing a glacier’s movement direction.
identify:
What is a bowl-shaped depression formed by glacial erosion?
Cirque
Cirques are bowl-shaped depressions carved by glacial erosion in mountainous regions, often serving as the origin points for alpine glaciers where snow accumulates and compresses into ice.
Identify:
What is a massive ice layer over 50,000 square kilometers?
Ice sheet
Ice sheets are the largest glacial formations and significantly influence global sea levels.
Identify:
What is the largest ice sheet on Earth?
The Antarctic ice sheet
The Antarctic ice sheet is the largest and most massive ice sheet, containing around 60% of the world’s fresh water.
True or False:
Permafrost is permanently frozen ground.
True
Permafrost is ground that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years. It is found in polar and high-altitude regions and can significantly impact climate and ecosystems by storing carbon and influencing vegetation.
