geography awesome ice

Question 1

What is the definition of glacial?

Answer 1

Colder period of time, sea levels drop

Glacial periods are characterized by significant ice sheet growth and lower global temperatures.

Question 2

What is the definition of interglacial?

Answer 2

Warmer period of time, sea levels rise

Interglacial periods occur between glacial periods, where temperatures rise and ice sheets recede.

Question 3

Which geological time are we currently living in?

Answer 3

Cenozoic era, Quaternary period, Holocene epoch

Question 4

Describe the climate of the Quaternary period.

Answer 4

Temperatures have fluctuated between glacial and interglacial.

Question 5

How have orbital changes impacted the Earth’s climate?

Answer 5

Depending on the shape of the Earth’s orbit (circular or elliptic) – can be warmer or colder.

Question 6

How does solar activity impact the Earth’s climate?

Answer 6

The amount of sun spots changes the amount of energy released. More sun spots releasing more sun’s energy. 11-year cycle.

Question 7

How have volcanic activities impacted the Earth’s climate?

Answer 7

Temperatures decrease because the ash blocks the sun’s rays.

Question 8

How have asteroid impacts impacted the Earth’s climate?

Answer 8

Asteroids hit and send debris (rocks, ash, dust) into the atmosphere, decreasing temperatures.

Question 9

What is the most important factor in causing global climate change?

Answer 9

Orbital changes last 10,000s of years are thought to be responsible for ice ages and interglacials.

Question 10

What is a mountain glacier?

Answer 10

A moving body of frozen ice (acts like a frozen river).

Question 11

What are land ice sheets?

Answer 11

Build-up of ice on top of continents.

Question 12

What are sea ice sheets?

Answer 12

Sea ice sheets hang off the edge of continents.

Question 13

What does latitude measure?

Answer 13

How far from the equator.

Question 14

What does altitude measure?

Answer 14

How high above sea level.

Question 15

How do high latitudes cause cold temperatures and ice?

Answer 15

Sun’s rays strike the Earth at an angle, spreading heat over larger areas.

Question 16

How do high altitudes cause cold temperatures and ice?

Answer 16

Air is less dense and mountains are exposed to strong winds.

Question 17

What latitude defines the Arctic?

Answer 17

66° of latitude north of the equator.

Question 18

Name countries located within the Arctic.

Answer 18

• Russia
• USA
• Iceland
• Finland
• Sweden
• Norway
• Canada
• Greenland (Denmark)

Question 19

Describe the biomes in the Arctic.

Answer 19

Tundra and mountain vegetation.

Question 20

Describe the climate of the Arctic.

Answer 20

Polar climate (very cold and dry).

Question 21

Name a river located in the Arctic.

Answer 21

• Mackenzie River (Canada)
• Yukon River (USA)
• Lena River (Russia)
• Yenisey River (Russia)
• River Ob (Russia)

Question 22

How does Arctic ice change with the seasons?

Answer 22

Sea ice freezes in winter and melts in summer.

Question 23

Describe economic activity in the Arctic.

Answer 23

Mostly primary employment (i.e. mining) and some tertiary (i.e. research).

Question 24

State 2 ways in which the Antarctic is different from the Arctic.

Answer 24

• Arctic: ocean surrounded by land
• Antarctic: land surrounded by ocean
• Antarctic: very high altitude
• Antarctic: has penguins
• Arctic: has polar bears

Question 25

What are indigenous communities?

Answer 25

Communities that identify as part of a distinct cultural group, descended from groups present before modern states.

Question 26

What does semi-nomadic mean?

Answer 26

They moved around each season to follow animals for hunting.

Question 27

How many people live in the Arctic?

Answer 27

Approximately 4 million people (about 10% are indigenous).

Question 28

Explain 2 challenges facing the Arctic’s indigenous communities.

Answer 28

* Climate change threatens traditional ways of life * Mining infrastructure blocks traditional migration routes.

Question 29

What is ablation?

Answer 29

The melting of ice at the end of the glacier.

Question 30

What is accumulation?

Answer 30

The building up of snow at the top of glaciers in winter.

Question 31

What does a positive glacier mass budget indicate?

Answer 31

The glacier is growing; more snow is accumulating.

Question 32

What does a negative glacier mass budget indicate?

Answer 32

The glacier is shrinking.

Question 33

Define abrasion in the context of glacial erosion.

Answer 33

The wearing away of valley walls like sandpaper.

Question 34

Define plucking in the context of glacial erosion.

Answer 34

When ice freezes to the ground and is taken away as the glacier moves downslope.

Question 35

What is freeze-thaw weathering?

Answer 35

Water gets into rock and freezes, pulling the rock apart over time.

Question 36

Describe a corrie/cirque.

Answer 36

A bowl-shaped landform created as ice rotates down.

Question 37

What is an arête?

Answer 37

Formed when two neighbouring cirques erode back to back, creating a steep ridge.

Question 38

What is a pyramidal peak?

Answer 38

Where three or more cirques form at the top of a mountain, creating a point.

Question 39

How is a U-shaped valley formed?

Answer 39

Glaciers move downstream carving valleys, making them deeper and wider.

Question 40

How is a hanging valley formed?

Answer 40

A small valley is eroded by a glacier and hangs over the main valley after ice melts.

Question 41

What is glacial deposition?

Answer 41

When a glacier drops rocks it is carrying.

Question 42

What is a drumlin?

Answer 42

A low oval mound formed by past glacial action.

Question 43

What are moraines?

Answer 43

Ridges of rocks and sediment carried down and deposited by a glacier.

Question 44

How much has the depth of Arctic ice thinned by since 1980?

Answer 44

The ice has halved in thickness.

Question 45

How much are melting ice sheets in Greenland expected to raise global sea levels by, by the end of the century?

Answer 45

½ metre.

Question 46

What is the albedo effect?

Answer 46

When dark surfaces absorb sunlight and light surfaces reflect sunlight.

Question 47

Why is the Arctic ice melting so fast?

Answer 47

Dark surfaces absorb more sunlight, leading to warmer temperatures and more ice melting.

Question 48

How are polar bears affected by ice melt in the Arctic?

Answer 48

Shorter hunting season leads to weight loss and survival challenges.

Question 49

How are food chains being affected by ice melt in the Bering Sea, Arctic?

Answer 49

Reduction in diatoms impacts food webs for species reliant on the sea.

Question 50

How does global warming impact glacial landscapes?

Answer 50

Glaciers are melting rapidly, changing erosive processes to depositional.