Question 1

What are the circumstances that lead to glacial advance versus glacial retreat? Most glaciers today are in retreat.What does this imply about the glaciers and their environment?

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Question 2

What do shorelines of former pluvial lakes in the western United States reveal?

Accepted Answer

Shorelines of former pluvial lakes in the western United States reveal that the climate in this region during the last ice age was much wetter than today, indicating a wetter climate in the past.

Question 3

Contrast global sea level during times of increased glaciation versus interglacial periods,and explain why this occurs.

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Question 4

Label the four different types of mountain glaciers shown in the picture below.

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Question 5

Describe what you would expect to see in a deposit of glacial till deposit.Why?

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Question 6

Imagine that you live in a hot and sunny climate.Painting your roof white would help ________ your house by ________ the albedo.

Accepted Answer

Painting your roof white would help cool your house by increasing the albedo. Albedo is the measure of a surface's ability to reflect sunlight. White surfaces have a high albedo and reflect more sunlight, which helps to reduce heat absorption and keep the surface and surrounding area cooler.

Question 7

Notice the boulders in the center of this picture of a glacially formed landscape.What are they? How did they get there?

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Question 8

The effect of periodic changes in the Earth's orbital eccentricity and magnitude and direction (precession)of its axial tilt on the advance and retreat of ice sheets was first proposed by ________.

Accepted Answer

The effect of periodic changes in Earth's orbital eccentricity and magnitude and direction (precession) of its axial tilt on the advance and retreat of ice sheets was first proposed by Milutin Milankovitch, a Serbian mathematician and astronomer.

Question 9

By increasing the albedo of the Earth,global ice sheets produce conditions that are ________ to their further advance,thus providing an example of ________ feedback.

Accepted Answer

Increasing the albedo of the Earth by global ice sheets reflects more sunlight back into space, cooling the planet and creating conditions that are favorable for the further advance of ice sheets. This is an example of positive feedback because the effect (more ice) amplifies the cause (cooling), leading to even more of the effect.

Question 10

How long does postglacial rebound take after continental ice sheets melt?

Accepted Answer

Postglacial rebound is a slow process that can take thousands of years after continental ice sheets melt. It occurs as the weight of the ice is removed and the land begins to rise back up, adjusting to its new equilibrium state. This process is still ongoing in some areas that were covered by ice during the last ice age, such as Scandinavia and parts of Canada.

Question 11

Explain why the deposits made by glacial outwash are stratified.

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Question 12

During the Pleistocene Ice Age,all the climate belts of the northern hemisphere shifted to the __________.

Accepted Answer

During the Pleistocene Ice Age, the climate belts of the northern hemisphere shifted to the south. This caused the expansion of the polar ice caps, the formation of glaciers, and changes in global sea levels. It is believed that this shift in climate belts was due to changes in the Earth's orbit and axial tilt, as well as variations in solar radiation and atmospheric greenhouse gases.

Question 13

You and some friends are going on a road trip and one of your goals is to see a glacier.Where could you go in the continental United States to do this? What type of glacier will you most likely be visiting?

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Question 14

List and describe one short-term cause for glaciations.

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Question 15

Imagine you are living in your current home but during the Pleistocene Ice Age.Contrast the present climate with that of your new climate in the Pleistocene.In one sentence,summarize how the climate is different now.

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Question 16

The Milankovitch cycles describe the change in ________ caused by cyclical changes in the Earth's orbit around the Sun.

Accepted Answer

The Milankovitch cycles describe the cyclical changes in the Earth's orbit around the Sun, which affect the amount and distribution of solar insolation (incoming solar radiation) on the Earth's surface.

Question 17

Contrast a glacially carved valley with one carved by a river.

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Question 18

The loss of rainforests would ________ the greenhouse gases,thereby ________ global warming.

Accepted Answer

The loss of rainforests would result in an increase in greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere. These increased levels of greenhouse gases would lead to an increase in global temperatures, thereby contributing to global warming.

Question 19

The Earth's most recent ice age is called the ________ and began approximately ________ years ago.

Accepted Answer

The most recent ice age is called the Pleistocene Period and began approximately 2.6 million years ago. The other answer choices are incorrect because they refer to different time intervals in Earth's geological history. The Holocene Period refers to the current geological epoch, which began around 12 thousand years ago. The Paleozoic Era spans from 540 million to 251 million years ago, and the Cenozoic Era spans from 65 million years ago to the present day.

Question 20

An important long-term factor that determines whether glacial ice will form on a continent has likely been the proportion of which gas in the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

The proportion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere plays a crucial role in determining whether glacial ice will form on a continent. Higher levels of carbon dioxide lead to a warmer climate, which makes it less likely for glacial ice to form. Conversely, lower levels of carbon dioxide can contribute to a cooling effect, which can increase the chances of glacial ice formation.

Quiz 18: Amazing Ice: Glaciers and Ice Ages