Questions and Answers
What is continental glaciation?
A large part of a continent is covered by an ice sheet.
Where does continental glaciation take place today?
Antarctica and Greenland.
What are striations?
Scratches left on rocks and bedrock by glacier movement.
What is a roche moutonnee?
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What is a nunatak?
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What is a crag and tail?
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What is a rock basin lake?
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What is a ribbon lake?
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What are kettle lakes?
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What are drumlins?
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What is an outwash plain?
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What is a braided stream?
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What is an esker?
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What is a delta kame?
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What is a varve?
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What are erratics?
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What are two advantages of the features of glaciation?
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What are two disadvantages of the features of glaciation?
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How has glaciation affected economic activity in BC?
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Study Notes
Continental Glaciation Overview
- Continental glaciation involves significant portions of a continent being covered by ice sheets.
- Present-day locations of continental glaciation are primarily Antarctica and Greenland.
Glacial Features and Terminology
- Striations: Scratch marks on rocks and bedrock resulting from glacier movement.
- Roche Mountonnée: A mass of resistant rock shaped by glaciers; smooth side faces ice flow while the jagged side results from plucking.
- Nunatak: An exposed rocky feature of a ridge or peak that remains uncovered by ice within or at the edge of a glacier.
- Crag and Tail: A geological formation where a resistant rock (crag) protects the lee-side, creating a gentler slope (tail) behind it.
Glacial Landforms
- Rock Basin Lake: Lakes formed in depressions carved into bedrock by advancing glaciers.
- Ribbon Lake (Finger Lake): Long, narrow lakes found in deep points of valley floors, formed due to the overdeepening of glacier troughs.
- Kettle Lakes: Depressions formed by melting blocks of ice left behind in glacial deposits.
- Drumlins: Tear-drop shaped mounds of debris shaped by glacier flow; pointed end directed towards the glacier's movement.
- Outwash Plain (Sandur): Extensive deposits of glacial sediment (gravel, sand, clay) created by meltwater streams at a distance from the glacier's terminus.
- Braided Stream: Meltwater rivers that split into multiple channels, often clogged with coarse materials due to seasonal discharge variations.
- Esker: A long, winding ridge of glacially deposited gravel and sand, often following ancient riverbeds.
- Delta Kame: A landform created by streams flowing through glacial ice that deposit materials as they enter larger bodies of water, resulting in a delta-like structure.
- Varve: Annual layers of sand and silt deposited in glacial lakes, useful for determining absolute ages of geological formations.
- Erratics: Large boulders transported by glaciers and deposited in areas far from their source.
Impacts of Glaciation
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Advantages:
- Scenic landscapes provide natural beauty and attract tourism.
- Water storage capabilities from glacial lakes are beneficial for ecosystems and human use.
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Disadvantages:
- Can lead to natural disasters such as flooding from melting glaciers or dam failures from moraines.
- Glacial features may pose hazards during periods of rapid climate change.
Economic Activity in British Columbia
- Economic impacts were influenced by glaciation in various ways, including resource availability and landscape development.
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Description
This quiz covers the significant aspects of continental glaciation, including key terminology and glacial features. Explore crucial terms like striations and nunataks, and understand the formation of various glacial landforms such as rock basin lakes and ribbon lakes.