Glaciated Landscapes: How Has Climate Change Influenced The Formation Of Glciated Landscapes Over Time Flashcards
(16 cards)
What is the sensitivity of glacial landscapes?
Glacial landscapes have a low level of resilience and are vulnerable to physical and anthropogenic threats such as climate change.
Glacial environments are particularly sensitive to changes in climate.
What are the two climatic states Earth has fluctuated between?
Greenhouse and icehouse states
These states last for millions of years, with glacial and interglacial periods occurring within the icehouse stage.
What are the long-term factors of climate change?
Milankovitch Cycles
These cycles involve variations in Earth’s orbit affecting global climate.
What does the Milankovitch theory state?
Global energy alters, forcing global changes due to the variation in the earth’s orbit.
This theory explains how astronomical factors influence climate.
What is the cycle duration for Stretch/Eccentricity?
96000 years
This cycle causes the Earth’s orbit to change from circular to elliptical.
What is the range of Earth’s tilt during its cycle?
21.8 degrees to 24.4 degrees
The tilt changes every 41000 years, affecting energy received by the tropics.
What occurs every 22000 years according to Milankovitch Cycles?
Wobble/Axial Precession
This process causes changes in the Earth’s seasons.
What are short-term causes of climate change?
Variations in Solar Output and Volcanic Eruptions
These factors can cause immediate changes in climate.
How does solar output vary?
It is not constant; sunspots increase/decrease in an 11 year cycle.
High numbers of sunspots were observed during the Medieval warming period.
What effect did the eruption of Mount Tambora have?
Lowered global temperature by 0.5 degrees Celsius
This eruption occurred in 1815 and contributed to a mini ice age.
What is the Cryosphere?
The term given to frozen water on the earth’s surface, including ice, glaciers, and ice caps.
It plays a vital role in stabilizing ocean temperature and climate.
What does periglaciation describe?
Geomorphic processes resulting from the thawing of snow in areas of permafrost.
It leads to the formation of structures like ice wedges and patterned ground.
What processes are included in periglacial processes?
Nivation, Freezethaw, Weathering, Solifluction
These processes involve erosion and movement of soil/material in cold environments.
What is Nivation?
Erosion of the ground around a slope of snow due to freezing and thawing.
This process occurs in areas where snow accumulates.
Define Freezethaw.
Water falls through cracks in rocks, freezes, expands, and breaks the rock.
This process contributes to the weathering of rocks.
What is Solifluction?
The movement of wet soil/material down a slope.
This process is significant in periglacial environments.
