Glaciers

Question 1

Characteristics of glacial environments

Answer 1

Snow and ice covering most of the landscape.
Consistently low temperatures.
Development of significant amounts of snow and ice led to formations of glaciers.
Glaciers radiated from the north and west and carved deep glacial valleys and troughs.

Question 2

What is an ice age ?

Answer 2

A period of long-term cooling of the Earth’s atmosphere, resulting in an expansion of ice sheets and glaciers.

Question 3

Glacial abrasion

Answer 3

The sandpaper effect caused by the weight of the ice scouring the valley floor. It leaves a smooth, polishes surface. Scratches called striations caused by large rocks beneath the ice can often be seen.

Question 4

Plucking

Answer 4

When the meltwater beneath the glacier freezes and bonds the base of the glacier to the rocky surface below, like glue. As the glacier moves, loose fragments of rock will be ‘plucked’ away. This leaves behind a jagged, rocky surface.

Question 5

Basal slip

Answer 5

Where meltwater acts as a lubricant to the glacier, enabling it to move downhill. This can be sudden and occurs more in summer months.

Question 6

Glacial rotational slip

Answer 6

Where ice moves along a curved surface to enlarge + develop hollows.

Question 7

Internal deformation

Answer 7

In winter, the glacier becomes frozen to the rocky surface. The weight of the ice and the influence of gravity causes individual ice crystals to change shape in a plastic-like way. This causes the glacier to move downhill.

Question 8

Bulldozing

Answer 8

Renewed further movement of the glacier pushes depositional material downhill. The buildup of sediment can form a hummock, which is a small mound of sediment.

Question 9

Where is deposition of material carried in the glacier found ?

Answer 9

The snout

Question 10

What causes glacial deposition ?

Answer 10

Constant transport of new, debris-laden ice into lowland areas results in deposition of all the eroded and weathered material from the uplands. This is called till.

Question 11

What is till ?

Answer 11

Poorly sorted debris carried by the ice and dumped when the ice melts. It comprises of a range of particle sizes and tends to be angular, having had little water transport.

Question 12

What is outwash ?

Answer 12

Carried by meltwater streams - is rounded and well-sorted, with gradually finer materials being deposited with distance away from the ice front.

Question 13

What is an arete ?

Answer 13

Also known as a free-thaw ridge.
A knife-edged ridge formed when 2 corries develop side by side or back to back. As the 2 corries erode towards each other, a ridge is formed between them.

Eg. Striding edge, Lake District

Question 14

What is a hanging valley ?

Answer 14

A tributary valley that is higher than the main valley.
Formed when a tributary glacier flows from the valley sides towards the main glacial valley.
As the glaciers flowed through the rock on the valley sides, they eroded smaller tributaries into the valley sides, leaving valleys ‘hanging’ over the valley below.

Eg. Nant Lilau, Snowdonia

Question 15

What is a pyramidal peak ?

Answer 15

A peak formed when 3 or more corries develop on all sides of a mountain.

Eg. Stob Dearg, Scotland

Question 16

What is a truncated spur ?

Answer 16

A blunt ended, sloping ridge which descends from the flank of a valley.
Formed by the force of a glacier bulldozing through a valley, removing large portions of the valley sides.

Eg. The Devil’s Point, Scotland

Question 17

What is a glacial trough ?

Answer 17

Before glaciation, a river valley would’ve been v-shaped.
During glaciation, the rock in the valley sides is removed through plucking and abrasion.
This results in a U-shaped valley or glacial trough. It has steep sides and a flat, wide valley floor.

Eg. Glencoe, Scotland

Question 18

What is a corrie ?

Answer 18

A deep, armchair shaped hollow found on the side of a mountain where a glacier was once found.
When the glacier melts, it leaves a lake called a tarn.

Eg. Red Tarn, Lake District

Question 19

How is a corrie formed ?

Answer 19

Snow accumulates in a sheltered hollow on a hillside.
Nivation enlarges the hollow enabling more snow to collect.
Gradually, the snow turns to ice and a small corrie glacier is formed.
Through rotational slip, the glacier abrades an over-deepened hollow.
Reduced erosion at the front of the corrie, due to the ice being thinner and less erosive, forms a raised lip.
Sometimes moraine may be deposited here.
A tarn may form in the bottom of the corrie.

Question 20

What are ribbon lakes ?

Answer 20

Long narrow lakes in glacial troughs.
Formed in the base of the glacial trough once the ice has melted, they may be created in an area of soft rock, where the glacier has eroded this area deeper.
The meltwater sits in the depression and leaves a ribbon lake.

Question 21

What is a drumlin ?

Answer 21

A small egg-shaped hill, often found on the floor of a glacial trough.
Elongated features that can reach 1km in length, 500m in width, and over 50m in height.

Steep Stoss end, shallow Lee end

Question 22

How are drumlins formed ?

Answer 22

Formed when the glacier deposits material. As the glacier is carrying so much, it is overloaded and struggles to carry it as it is nearer the end and is melting.
Small obstacles lead to moraine being deposited around them as the ice cannot overcome them and carry material.
The moraine moulds around the obstacle, the blunt end being the deposited material upstream of the ice, and the long tapered end where the ice has flowed over and trailed the moraine with it.
When the ice sheet moves over the material, it shapes it, depending on the direction of ice flow.

Question 23

What are erratics ?

Answer 23

Rocks that have been transported by ice and deposited elsewhere. This lithology that the erratic is made from is different to the lithology of the bedrock where the erratic is deposited.

Question 24

What is moraine ?

Answer 24

Deposited material from a glacier

Question 25

Ground moraine

Answer 25

Material that has dragged underneath the glacier, which is left behind when the ice melts.

Question 26

Lateral moraine

Answer 26

Forms on the side of a glacier. Mostly made of scree, fallen from the edges of the valley.

Question 27

Medial moraine

Answer 27

When a tributary glacier joins a smaller one, 2 lateral moraines merge into one. When ice melts it forms a ridge in the middle.

Question 28

Terminal moraine

Answer 28

Huge amounts of moraine build up at the end of a glacier. It marks the maximum extent of ice coverage.

Question 29

Recessional moraine

Answer 29

Marks where the glacier once was, as it retreats back, material is deposited.

Question 30

Why does sheep farming take place in glaciated upland areas ?

Answer 30

Sheep can tolerate the cold, wet and windy conditions. In summer, sheep graze the steep valley slopes, and in winter, they are brought down to the valley floor. Eg. 50% of ewes are reared in glaciated areas. Wool + meat can be sold, sheep can be traded.

Question 31

Why does arable farming take place in glaciated upland areas ?

Answer 31

Soils in the valley bottoms are thicker, and the flat-bottomed glacial trough is ideal for machinery. This fertile land is used for growing cereals and potatoes, due to the less harsh climates. It is also used for growing grass, stored as silage or hay for feeding livestock. Eg. Nantle Valley Prices can be raised due to sought-after location.

Question 32

Why does tourism take place in glaciated upland areas ?

Answer 32

Spectacular glacial scenery, opportunities for hiking, walking and biking. Tarns and ribbon lakes are ideal for watersports. Eg. Lake District, Beatrix Potter, 16 million visitors spend £900 million pounds yearly. Creates jobs and boosts economy.

Question 33

Why does forestry take place in glaciated upland areas ?

Answer 33

Large plantations of conifers due to adaptations to acidic soil. Can be left for 20-30 years before being felled for timber or making paper. Eg. Trossachs National Park - large areas of plantations for industrial-scale forestry. Viable source of money for land-owners, other than farming.

Question 34

Why does quarrying take place in glaciated upland areas ?

Answer 34

Hard resistant rock can be quarried and crushed to provide construction-level stone and material for roads. Eg. Limestone makes up majority of the Pennine Hills, a valuable resource used in the chemical industry for making cement and conditioning soils. Provides minerals which can be used in building, power and electricity. Useful for the expanding population.

Question 35

Conflict of quarrying in glaciated areas

Answer 35

Pollution of land and rivers, destroys habitats, spoils landscape, noise pollution due to transport and processes

Question 36

Conflict of tourism in glaciated areas

Answer 36

Drop litter, erode footpaths, scare sheep, trample on crops, leave gates open. Land is used for gift and coffee shops instead of farming. Increase in house prices due to popularity.

Question 37

Conflict of sheep farming in glaciated areas

Answer 37

Removes vegetation from area.

Question 38

Conflict of forestry in glaciated areas

Answer 38

Destroys habitats, aids global warming, coniferous woodlands do not support as many species as natural woodlands

Question 39

Conflict of military training in glaciated areas

Answer 39

Engine noise disrupts transquility.

Question 40

Glenridding zipwire 2014

Answer 40

Windemere company Treetop Trek put forward a proposal to construct 4 parallel 1-mile zip wires. They would run from a disused mine in the national park and reach a field above Glenridding. Plan did not go through after conflict with the public, despite the economic opportunity it may have brought.

Question 41

Physical attractions of the Lake District

Answer 41

Mountainous landscapes with peaks such as Scafell Pike are popular with hikers and bikers. Lakes eg. Windermere attract fishing, watersports, cruises Adventure activities eg, abseiling, rock climbing

Question 42

Cultural attractions of the Lake District

Answer 42

Beatrix Potter's home, a National Trust site Muncaster Castle, a historic site The landscape has inspired many writers, eg William Wordsworth

Question 43

Social impacts of tourism in Lake District

Answer 43

In 2018, 20 million tourists visited, compared to the 40,000 locals. 83% of visitors travel by car, creating congestion. High house prices, 20% of houses are holiday homes. Jobs in tourism are poorly paid and seasonal.

Question 44

Economic impacts of tourism in Lake District

Answer 44

In 2019 tourists spent £3 billion. Provides employment for 65,000 locals. New businesses fuelled by tourism provide new jobs for locals. Traffic congestion slows business communications.

Question 45

Environmental impacts of tourism in Lake District

Answer 45

Signs of overcrowding - footpath erosion, litter, damages to verges from cars. Pollution from vehicles damages ecosystems. Walkers damage farmland by trampling crops or leaving litter, dogs disturb sheep and cattle.

Question 46

How is congestion in the Lake District managed ?

Answer 46

The Go Lakes Programme - a £6.9 million initiative, funded by the government. Aims to : Improve public transport Develop integrated walking and cycling networks Create transport hubs with integrated ticketing Expand park and ride systems

Question 47

How is footpath erosion managed in the Lake District ?

Answer 47

The Fix The Fells charity maintain and repair mountain paths, supported by the national trust. The Upland Path Landscape Restoration Project has repaired paths, created steps, and resurfaced paths with local stone and native plants.