Earth Science Glacial Terms

Esker

A sinuous (winding) ridge deposited by a stream in a tunnel under a glacier.

Kame

A small hill of sediment deposited by stream, often at the end of a glacier. This process is similar to the formation of a delta where a stream enters calm water.

Influence of Climates Arid Climate There is ___ vegetation which ___ sediments in place on ____ slopes or at the ___ of the slopes. There's rapid removal of sediments causing a: ____ & ____ landscapes.

An arid climate is dry & has physical weathering. There is little vegetation to hold sediments in place on steeper slopes or at the base of the slopes. There's rapid removal of sediments causing a :steep slope & sharp angular landscapes.

Landscape Boundaries Consist of : 1) Edges in ___ cliffs. 2) Changes in type or amount of ____. 3) River courses that follow the direction of the ____ ____.

Boundaries between landscape regions. Consist of 1) edges in mountain cliffs. 2) changes in type or amount of slope. 3) River courses that follow the direction of the structural change.

Softer Rocks What kind of appearance ?

Erode faster than competent rocks. Ex: layers of hillside has softer rocks, it will erode faster giving the hill/slope a uneven or stepped appearance.

Glaciers Glaciers are sorted or unsorted ? Nearly all of ____ was covered by glacial ice.

Glaciers are accumulations of snow & ice large enough to survive the summer melt. Glaciers are unsorted. Nearly all of NY state was covered by glacial ice.

Humans Negative Affect On Landscapes. Disposing of materials causes ?? High population numbers will increase _____ ____ or ____ ___ ____ ____.

Humans do not know how to properly dispose of water products, which destroy animals, plant life, and water sources. High population numbers will increase landscape pollution or misuse of land areas.

Ice can move between a few ____ to several ___ a day.

Ice can move between a few centimeters to several meters a day.

Humans Positive Affect On Landscapes. Increased awareness of various ___ & landscape ____.

Increased awareness ecological & landscape interactions. (clean toxic waste dumps)

Landscapes The shape (topography) & composition of a landscape are determine by ___ ___ ___ & ___.

Is a region on Earth's surface which physical features (hills, mountain, streams) are related by common origin. The shape (topography) & composition of a landscape are determined by climate, local bedrock, geological structure, & human activities.

Grooves

Long channels or furrows carved by rocks dragged under a moving glacier

Striations

Scratches on bedrock formed when a glacier dragged embedded rocks over a bedrock surface.

Outwash

Sediments carried away from a glacier by meltwater. Outwash is usually stratified (layered) & sorted.

Streams will flow zones of weaker rocks and water always flows ____.

Streams will flow zones of weaker rocks and water always flows downhill.

(glaciers) When ice forms under the weight of accumulating layers of ___ it will begin to flow ______ away from the ___. It always flows ___ away from Canada.

When ice forms under the weight of accumulating layers of snow it will begin to flow downhill away from the thickest accumulation. It always flows southward away from Canada.

Alpine Glaciers

also known as valley glaciers.

Mountains 1) Elevation/ crustal uplift ? 2) Slopes 3) Internal features/ structure. Composed of mostly ___ rocks. There are ___ types of mountains. Their ___ determines what kind of mountain it'll be.

1) Areas of high elevation compared to surrounding area or sea level (crustal uplift) 2) steep slopes/ gradient may change in elevation. 3) Internal features many distorted rock structures such as faults, folds & tilted rocks. Composed of mostly non-sedimentary rocks. There are different types of mountains. Their origin determines what kind of mountain it'll be.

Plateaus 1) Elevation ? 2) Rock structure ? 3) Slope ? Plateaus may have a ___ slope where streams have cut valleys.

1) Areas of high elevation- area of rural uplift. 2) Undisturbed horizontal rock structure. 3) More level slope/ gradient that mountains (gentle slope) Plateaus may have a steep slope where streams have cut valleys.

Plains 1) Elevation ? 2) Plains are remains of __ __ which have been leveled by ___ & ___. Composed of ___ ___ rocks.

1) Areas of low elevation (little or no slope). 2) Plains are remains of mountain ranges which have been leveled by weathering & erosion. Composed of metamorphic distorted rocks

Polish

A bedrock surface smoothed by glacial abrasion. If fresh, it may reflect light.

Kettle/ Kettle Lakes

A closed depression in till, sometimes created as an ice block melted, leaving a hole. Some kettles fill with water to form kettle lakes.

Influence of Climates Humid Climate Sediments on ___/___ at the ___ are better held together by more ____ vegetation. They are ____ and more ____ landscapes.

A humid climate has chemical weathering. Sediments on hill/ slopes & at the base are better held together by more abundant vegetation. They are smoother and more rounded landscapes.

Erratic

A large rock or boulder moved by a glacier. Some erratics differ in rock type from the bedrock below them.

Drumlin

A long narrow hill composed of glacial till, which was shaped by moving ice. In New York, drumlins are steep on the north end & trail off to the south.

Whaleback/ Roche Moutonnée

A rock knob shaped and plucked by moving ice. The sharper plucked end is usually on the end to which the glacier advanced. (These are also known by their French name: Roche Moutonnée)

Moraine

An elongated & irregular pile of unsorted till deposited by moving ice, usually at the side or at the end of a glacier.

Till

An immature soil, with little organic material, composed of unsorted sediment that has been moved into place by a glacier.

Continental Landscape Regions

Any continental landscape region has several landscape regions that can be identified.

Topic Relief

Is the change in elevation from between the higher & lowest point. (lowest elevation to highest elevation).

Competent Rocks They form the ____ portions of a landscape. (For example ??) They all wear down ___ the slope will be fairly ___.

Rocks that are hard & resist weathering are competent rocks. They form the higher portions of a landscape. (mountains/ plateaus/ escarpments[cliffs]). They all wear down evenly the slope will be fairly even.