Erosion in glacial environments

Question 1

How much erosion can glaciers carry out in comparison to other agents of erosion such as water and wind?

Answer 1

Glaciers are capable of tremendous amounts of erosion compared to other agents of erosion such as water and wind.

Question 2

What impact does erosion caused by moving masses of ice have on landscapes?

Answer 2

Landscapes experience considerable modification as a result of the erosion caused by moving masses of ice.

Question 3

Define the term erosion?

Answer 3

Erosion is the sculpturing action of ice, water and wind.

Question 4

Glaciers that move relatively quickly and transport large amounts of debris at their base are capable of what type of erosion?

Answer 4

Glaciers that move relatively quickly and transport large amounts of debris at their base are capable of powerful physical erosion which can drastically alter the pre-glacial landscape.

Question 5

Which processes are increasingly recognised as important agents of erosion in glacierised catchments?

Answer 5

Chemical processes are increasingly recognised as important agents of erosion in glacierised catchments. Carbonates and the surfaces of silicate materials dissolve readily in subglacial environments and these are removed as dissolved load in glacial meltwater.

Question 6

The processes of erosion can be divided into which three major groups?

Answer 6

• Abrasion
• Plucking (or rock quarrying)
• Meltwater erosion