Deck 14: Snow Into Ice--The Basis of Glaciers

Question 1

The Patagonia region of Chile and Argentina features a large,elongated glacier approximately 90 km (56 mi)wide and 360 km (224 mi)long.This is an example of a(n)

A)ice cap.
B)ice field.
C)ice sheet.
D)alpine glacier.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

A glacier confined in a bowl-shaped recess is known as a(n)

A)piedmont glacier.
B)valley glacier.
C)tidewater glacier.
D)cirque glacier.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

A snowline refers to

A)an isoline demarcating the extent of snow or ice on a weather map.
B)the lowest latitude or elevation where winter snow accumulation persists throughout the summer.
C)the latitude demarcating the extent of glacial ice during the last glacial maximum.
D)the latitude or elevation at which winter snow accumulates each year.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The bulk of ice on Earth is in

A)North America,specifically Alaska.
B)floating ice shelves and packs.
C)European and Asian mountain ranges.
D)Greenland and Antarctica.

Question 5

A general term for a mass of perennial ice,resting on land or floating in the sea attached to a landmass is

A)an iceberg.
B)the snowline.
C)a moraine.
D)a glacier.

Question 6

An extensive,continuous mass of ice occurring on a continental scale is known as a(n)

A)piedmont glacier.
B)tidal glacier.
C)tidewater glacier.
D)ice sheet.

Question 7

Which of the following is CORRECT regarding valley glaciers?

A)They remain stationary and do not move.
B)They may range in length from 100 m (325 ft.)to 100 km (62 mi.).
C)They occur in an unconfined environment like an open plain.
D)The snowfield sources for these glaciers are usually found right at the snowline.

Question 8

Alpine glaciers include all of the following EXCEPT

A)a cirque glacier.
B)an ice cap.
C)a valley glacier.
D)a piedmont glacier.

Question 9

Several valley glaciers coalescing at the base of a mountain range form a(n)

A)tidewater glacier.
B)ice cap.
C)cirque glacier.
D)piedmont glacier.

Question 10

Which of the following is INCORRECT about glacial movement?

A)Glacial movement produces distinct landforms.
B)Glaciers move under the pressure of their own weight and the pull of gravity.
C)Glaciers move in streamlike patterns,merging as tributaries into large rivers of ice.
D)Glaciers are mostly stationary,only moving several centimeters over tens of years.

Question 11

The transformation of snow into glacial ice in Antarctica takes than in midlatitude alpine glaciers because .

A)longer; the dryness of the Antarctic climate and minimal snowfall as compared to wetter climates with constant snowfall
B)less time; there is more melting and refreezing in the midlatitudes and,therefore,it takes much longer there
C)longer; the long summer days in Antarctica (up to 24-hours)results in more sunlight impeding the glacier development process
D)less time; more snow fall in the polar regions each year slows the glacier formation process

Question 12

Glacial ice is

A)formed from continual accumulation of snow that recrystallizes under its own weight into an ice mass over a period of many years.
B)generally less dense than snow and firn.
C)essentially the same as snow.
D)made of sedimentary rock.

Question 13

The type of glacier that dominates Greenland and Antarctica is an

A)ice shelves.
B)ice field.
C)ice cap.
D)ice sheet.

Question 14

The average thickness of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets is more than

A)1,000 m (3,280 ft).
B)2,000 m (6,500 ft).
C)3,000 m (9,800 ft).
D)4,000 m (13,100 ft).

Question 15

Partly compacted snow that is intermediate between snow and ice is called a(n)

A)snowline.
B)firn.
C)moraine.
D)glacier.

Question 16

Which of the following is CORRECT regarding the snowline?

A)It decreases in elevation with increasing latitude.
B)It occurs at approximately the same elevation at all latitudes because the environmental lapse rate is approximately the same at all latitudes.
C)It increases in elevation with increasing latitude.

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT true?

A)Decreases in snow cover may create a positive feedback loop as decreased albedo can lead to more warming.
B)Seasonal snowpacks increases Earthʹs albedo.
C)Many western states heavily rely on snowmelt for municipal water supplies.
D)The cryosphere comprises only a small,but very important component of Earthʹs freshwater resources.

Question 18

Why is glacial ice analogous to a metamorphic rock?

A)It has a crystalline structure.
B)It has a definite chemical composition.
C)It forms as a result of recrystallization caused by pressure.
D)It is solid.

Question 19

Approximately,what percentage of Earthʹs freshwater is frozen?

A)10%
B)25%
C)50%
D)75%

Question 20

The process of calving produces

A)nunataks.
B)icebergs.
C)moraines.
D)tidewater glacier.

Question 21

During a glacier surge,a glacier may move at a speed of

A)a few kilometers per hour.
B)1 cm per day.
C)1 meter per hour.
D)tens of meters per day.

Question 22

are sharp ridges that form when glaciers erode parallel valleys.

A)Arêtes
B)Eskers
C)Bergschrunds
D)Drumlins

Question 23

Glacial polish results from

A)abrasion.
B)ablation.
C)regelation.
D)ice plucking.

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT an erosional feature formed by an alpine glacier?

A)Col
B)Cirque
C)Horn
D)Drumlin

Question 25

A glacierʹs mass balance is determined by

A)ablation.
B)accumulation.
C)both accumulation and ablation.
D)neither accumulation nor ablation.

Question 26

An asymmetrical hill of exposed bedrock produced by plucking and abrasion is known as a(n)

A)bergschrund.
B)esker.
C)drumlin.
D)roche moutonnée.

Question 27

The upper portion of a glacier flows the lower portion of the glacier.

A)faster than
B)slower than
C)at the same speed as

Question 28

A glaciated valley is shaped; a stream cut valley is shaped.

A)U-; V-
B)V-; U-
C)U-; U-
D)V-; V-

Question 29

When several cirque glaciers gouge an individual mountain summit from all sides,a pyramidal peak known as a results.

A)col
B)hanging valley
C)horn
D)arêtes

Question 30

Sediments deposited by glacial ice are ; material deposited by glacial meltwater are .

A)unsorted; unsorted
B)sorted; unsorted
C)unsorted; sorted
D)sorted; sorted

Question 31

The various processes that result in the loss of a glacierʹs mass are known collectively as

A)deflation.
B)surface melting.
C)sublimation.
D)ablation.

Question 32

The general term for all glacial deposits is

A)alluvium.
B)glacial drift.
C)erg.
D)talus.

Question 33

All of the following are related to glacial erosion EXCEPT

A)ablation.
B)plucking.
C)abrasion.
D)erratics.

Question 34

A long,narrow glacially-eroded inlets in which the sea extends inland are known as

A)tarns.
B)paternoster.
C)fjords.
D)cirques.

Question 35

Which of the following is NOT generally correct regarding the basal layer of a glacier?

A)It contains more debris than other parts of the glacier.
B)It can extend tens of meters above the ground surface.
C)Crevasses form in this region of the glacier.
D)It tends to flow more slowly than the overlying parts of the glacier.

Question 36

The accumulation zone of a glacier ends at the ,which marks the elevation above which the winter snow and ice remained intact throughout the summer.

A)ice field
B)terminal moraine
C)snow line
D)firn line

Question 37

The zone where accumulation balances ablation is known as the

A)equilibrium line.
B)crevasses.
C)snowline.
D)medial moraine.

Question 38

Crevasses usually form as a result of

A)friction,tension,and compression.
B)ablation.
C)regelation.
D)deposition.

Question 39

Glacial surges may be associated with

A)lubrication from meltwater.
B)soft bed below the glacier.
C)water pressure under the glacier.
D)water pressure,soft bed,or lubrication.

Question 40

A class of landforms formed by the accumulation of glacial till are known as

A)outwash.
B)sorted drift.
C)alluvium.
D)moraines.

Question 41

Periglacial environments are likely to occur in which of the following climate types?

A)Humid continental
B)Desert
C)Mesothermal
D)Tundra

Question 42

The lengthy ridges of till along each side of an alpine glacier are moraines.

A)ground
B)terminal
C)medial
D)lateral

Question 43

Till that forms behind a terminal moraine as the glacier retreats and is generally spread widely across the ground surface is called a(n)

A)lateral moraine.
B)drumlin swarm.
C)till plain.
D)outwash plain.

Question 44

If two glaciers with lengthy ridges of till along each side of the glacier merge,a moraine may form.

A)ground
B)terminal
C)medial
D)lateral

Question 45

Which of the following is CORRECT regarding permafrost?

A)The surface layer of permafrost never thaws,even in the warm season.
B)It develops where soil or rock temperatures are below freezing for at least two years.
C)It tends to occur at lower elevations in the midlatitudes than in the high latitudes.
D)It primarily occurs in areas covered with glaciers.

Question 46

The expansion and contraction of frost action results in the movement of soil particles,stones,and small boulders into distinct shapes know as

A)patterned ground.
B)solifluction.
C)gelifluction.
D)taliks.

Question 47

Vertical and horizontal movement caused by the expansion of freezing water are called

A)frost heaving and frost thrusting,respectively.
B)frost thrusting and frost heaving,respectively.
C)frost heaving.
D)frost thrusting.

Question 48

Unfrozen ground in a region of discontinuous permafrost is known as

A)nunatak.
B)patterned ground.
C)talik.
D)cryotic zone.

Question 49

The presence of till indicates

A)deposition by a glacier.
B)deposition by water.
C)deposition by wind.
D)deposition of unknown origin (wind,water,or glacial).

Question 50

The term periglacial refers to

A)process and effects that existed during the last ice age.
B)cold climate processes that shape landscapes,such as those near glaciers.
C)areas that are on top of a glacier.
D)regions that are too warm for ground ice.

Question 51

Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?

A)There are no permafrost regions in Alaska due to its maritime subarctic climate.
B)Permafrost develops in areas where soil,sediment,or rock temperatures remain below 0°C (32°F)for at least two years.
C)Periglacial environments occur at high latitudes and high elevations.
D)Periglacial regions occupy over 20% of Earthʹs land surface.

Question 52

A long,narrow,sinuous ridge of stratified sand and gravel located in a till plain is known as a(n)

A)drumlin.
B)kame.
C)esker.
D)kettle.

Question 53

A lake that fills a steep-sided depression that is left in ground moraine by a large block of stranded ice that melts is called a(n)

A)drumlin.
B)kame.
C)esker.
D)kettle.

Question 54

Eroded debris dropped at the glacierʹs farthest extent is called moraine.

A)ground
B)terminal
C)medial
D)lateral

Question 55

A small hill,knob,or mound of sorted sand and gravel that forms on the surface of a glacier and is deposited after the glacier retreats is a(n)

A)drumlin.
B)kame.
C)esker.
D)kettle.

Question 56

Elongated hills,often in the shape of a bowl of an inverted spoon,streamlined in the direction of glacial movement,are called

A)eskers.
B)drumlins.
C)kettles.
D)horns.

Question 57

Sorted sediment deposited by glaciofluvial action are called

A)stratified drift.
B)glacial erratics.
C)moraines.
D)till.

Question 58

The zone of seasonally frozen ground that exists between the subsurface permafrost layer and the ground surface is called the

A)talik.
B)gelifluction.
C)active layer.
D)discontinuous region.

Question 59

Frozen subsurface water in regions of permafrost is called

A)periglacial water.
B)ground ice.
C)talik.
D)the active layer.

Question 60

The area of sediment deposit by by glaciofluvial action beyond the glacial terminus is known as the

A)till plain.
B)outwash plain.
C)terminal moraine.
D)end moraine.

Question 61

Which of the following has been cited as a positive feedback loop involving the thawing of permafrost?

A)Thawing of permafrost will increase albedo,leading to more warming.
B)Thawing of permafrost will release vast amounts of carbon to the atmosphere,accelerating warming.
C)Thawing of permafrost will inhibit frost wedging action on large boulders,altering absorption ability.
D)Thawing of permafrost will contribute to sea level rise,which will further reduce overall global albedo values.
TRUE/FALSE.Write ʹTʹ if the statement is true and ʹFʹ if the statement is false.

Question 62

Which of the following is NOT true?

A)Antarctica can be thought of as a continent covered by a single enormous glacier.
B)The Arctic is a large landmass surrounded by a cold ocean.
C)The Antarctic is generally colder than the Arctic.
D)About half of the Arctic sea-ice volume has disappeared since 1970.

Question 63

The Great Lakes of North America were created by

A)cirque glaciers.
B)ice sheets that enlarged and deepened stream valleys to form the basins of the future lakes.
C)the deposition of ice in till plains.
D)isostatic subsidence of the crust.

Question 64

All snowflakes have six sides and show a remarkable degree of similarity to one another.

Question 65

Which of the following is INCORRECT relative to the Pleistocene Epoch?

A)The ice sheets disappeared approximately 7,000 years ago.
B)It began 1.65 million years ago.
C)It represents a single,continuous cold spell.
D)In some areas the ice sheets were more than 2 km (1.2 mi)thick.

Question 66

Many western states rely heavily on snowmelt for their municipal water supplies.

Question 67

The Great Salt Lake is a remnant of which pluvial lake?

A)Lake Lahontan
B)Lake Manix
C)Lake Russell
D)Lake Bonneville

Question 68

Glaciation can take about years,whereas deglaciation requires about years.

A)100; 1000
B)1000; 100
C)100,000; 10,000
D)10,000; 90,000

Question 69

The snowline is at a higher elevation on equatorial mountains than on midlatitude mountains.

Question 70

Which of the following is NOT correct regarding the Pleistocene?

A)At its height almost a third of Earth was covered with ice.
B)It began 1.65 mya and had at least 18 glacial/interglacial cycles.
C)Sea levels were 100 m (330 ft.)higher than today.
D)The Ohio and Missouri River systems marked the southern terminus of continuous ice at its greatest extent.

Question 71

Which of the following is NOT an example of a pluvial lake?

A)Lake Lahontan
B)Lake Bonneville
C)Lake Russell
D)Lake Superior

Question 72

Which of the following is evidence of recent changes in polar regions?

A)Increase in meltponds
B)Decrease in Arctic sea-ice volume
C)The breakup of ice shelves
D)Ice sheet darkening
E)Decrease in sea ice volume,ice sheet darkening,increased meltponds,and ice shelves calving are all evidence of recent changes in polar regions.

Question 73

Sea levels 18,000 years ago were approximately

A)100 m (330 ft)lower than they are today.
B)50 m (165 ft)higher than they are today.
C)25 m (82 ft)lower than they are today.
D)10 m (33 ft)higher than they are today.

Question 74

During the Pleistocene pluvial lakes formed in the United States as a result of .

A)southwestern; melting glaciers
B)eastern; ice deposits in till plains
C)western; extended periods of wet conditions
D)northeastern; melting glaciers

Question 75

Which of the following has NOT been cited as a possible cause of ice sheet darkening?

A)Ice melt has exposed darker land surface,water,and vegetation.
B)Snow metamorphism
C)Black carbon accumulation from wildfires
D)Sunspot activity

Question 76

In which year did surface melt on the Greenland ice sheet reach its greatest extent?

A)2002
B)2006
C)2012
D)2013

Question 77

Firn has a higher density than glacial ice.

Question 78

Solifluction is most similar to which mass movement process?

A)Fall
B)Mudflow
C)Creep
D)Slump

Question 79

Which of the following is NOT an adaptation to living in periglacial regions?

A)Raised oil pipelines above the frozen ground
B)Enclosed water and sewage lines
C)Buildings placed directly on frozen,hard surfaces
D)Careful maintenance of rail tracks and roadbeds in the summer

Question 80

The 10°C (50°F)isotherm for July is used as the environmental criteria to define

A)the Antarctic convergence
B)the Antarctic region
C)the extent of Pleistocene glaciation.
D)the Arctic region.