Continental Glaciation Overview

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?

Mass of more resistant rock that has a smooth, rounded up valley slope facing the direction of ice flow. Signup and view all the answers

What is a nunatak?

An exposed, often rocky element of a ridge, mountain, or peak not covered with ice or snow. Signup and view all the answers

What is a crag and tail?

A larger mass of more resistant rock that protects lee-side rocks, with a gentle slope behind it. Signup and view all the answers

What is a rock basin lake?

Lakes that are found in basins gouged out of bedrock by advancing ice sheets. Signup and view all the answers

What is a ribbon lake?

Long narrow lakes found in the deep parts of a valley floor. Signup and view all the answers

What are kettle lakes?

Lakes formed by blocks of ice trapped beneath glacial deposits that melt and leave depressions. Signup and view all the answers

What are drumlins?

Tear drop shaped mounds of debris with the pointed end facing the front of the glacier. Signup and view all the answers

What is an outwash plain?

Large areas of glacial sediment deposited by meltwater streams furthest from the glacier's snout. Signup and view all the answers

What is a braided stream?

Channels of meltwater rivers that become choked with coarse material due to seasonal discharge variations. Signup and view all the answers

What is an esker?

A long winding ridge of post-glacial gravel and sand, usually following an old riverbed. Signup and view all the answers

What is a delta kame?

A glacial landform made by a stream flowing through glacial ice and depositing sorted material in a triangular shape. Signup and view all the answers

What is a varve?

A banded layer of sand and silt deposited annually in a lake near glacial lakes. Signup and view all the answers

What are erratics?

Large boulders transported into an area by a glacier. Signup and view all the answers

What are two advantages of the features of glaciation?

Scenic beauty and water storage. Signup and view all the answers

What are two disadvantages of the features of glaciation?

Causes natural disasters over time and may lead to damming lakes. Signup and view all the answers

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

Advantages:
- Scenic landscapes provide natural beauty and attract tourism.
- Water storage capabilities from glacial lakes are beneficial for ecosystems and human use.
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.