Name 3 inputs to the glacier
Avalanches,wind deposition , snowfall
Name a store in a glacier
Snow and ice
Name 2 flows/transfers to a glacier
Evaporation,processes of glacial movement (internal deformation and basal slip)
Name the 3 outputs of a glacier
Chucks of ice breaking off,water ,evaporation
what affects the glacier mass balance of a system
inputs,stores,flows/transfers,outputs
how is a glacier primarily formed
by the accumulation and compaction of snow over many years, often centuries. This process occurs in cold regions where winter snowfall exceeds the amount of snow that melts during the summer, allowing snow to build up and transform into ice.
what is mass balance
the gains and losses of the ice store in the glacier system
what is accumulation
results from direct snowfall and other precipitation ,ice, blown snow and avalanching from slopes above the glacier surface
what is ablation
snow and ice are lost to the glacier system by melting,evapouration (sublimation),and iceberg calving
what is the glacier mass balance
-glacier systems are dynamic (they are always changing)
-the ration of inputs and outputs varies from short to long term
-the way we show these changes is on the glacier mass balance diagram
-this usually runs over the course of a year
how do we determine the health of glaciers today
interpretation of arial photographs-too see evidence of thinning or retreating
idk a question for this
if accumulation exceeds ablation,this leads to a positive mass balance.The glaciers mass increases and the glacier advances.This glacier is healthy if this happens for consecutive years
idk a question for this
if ablation exceeds accumulation ,this leads to a negative mass balance.The glaciers mass decreases and the glacier retreats.The glacier is unhealthy if this happens over consecutive years
why is the glacier mass balance important
-changes in a glacier mass balance affects how it works and the landform it creates
-if the climate cools,ice thickens, velocity may increase and the glacier may advance. It will then erode and transport sediment vigorously
-during warmer periods, ice becomes thinner and retreats.Its velocity slows down and the glacier erodes/transports less sediment but deposits more
what is the fundamental cause of ice movement
gravity,ice moves downslope from higher altiude to lower areas on land
what happens as the ice mass increases
the weight of the snow and ice exerts an increasing downslope force due to gravity
what is shear stress and how does it work
shear stress increases as the slope angle increases,and once it is great enough to overcome resisting force
