Glaciation- EQ1

Question 1

How does CO2 concentration (Ice cores) tell us about glacial periods?

Answer 1

Lower CO2: Glacial
Higher CO2: Interglacial

Question 2

Stadial vs Interstadial

Answer 2

Stadial: Short period of intense cold (Little Ice Age)
Interstadial: Short period of intense warmth (Medieval warm period)

Question 3

3 Long-Term causes of climate change

Answer 3

Eccentricity (~100k Yrs)
Obliquity (Change in axial tilt) (~41k Yrs)
Wobble/Precession (Wobble around axis) (~21k Yrs)

Question 4

3 Short-Term causes of climate change

Answer 4

Solar forcing (Sunspots)
Volcanoes (VEI 7+ Causes global dimming)
ENSO cycles

Question 5

Cryosphere?

Answer 5

Parts of crust & atmosphere that drops below 0C

Question 6

2 Physical roles of cryosphere?

Answer 6

Regulates climate via albedo
Global store of freshwater

Question 7

7 Types of Ice Masses?

Answer 7

Ice sheets
Ice caps
Ice shelf
Ice field
Valley Glaciers
Piedmont Glaciers
Cirques

Question 8

3 Main classifications of glaciers?

Answer 8

Warm Based
Cold Based
Polythermal

Question 9

Features of a warm-based Glacier?

Answer 9

High Altitude
Temperate
Surface temps fluctuate below and above 0C
Liquid water at base due to Hydrostatic pressure
Large amounts of debris

Question 10

Features of a cold-based glacier?

Answer 10

High Latitude (Polar)
Limited surface melt
No liquid water at base
Permanently frozen to ground
Little debris at base

Question 11

2 Main factors in glacier formation?

Answer 11

Latitude
Altitude

Question 12

How does Latitude impact glacier formation?

Answer 12

High latitudes mean Sun’s rays hit at a lower angle, so same energy needs to heat more area

Question 13

How does Altitude impact glacier formation?

Answer 13

Environmental lapse rate (Rate at which temp decreases with altitude)

Question 14

Local factors affecting glacier formation?

Answer 14

Aspect (Direction the slope faces)
Relief (Topology of the area)