Depositional Features: Drumlins Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What are drumlins?

Drumlins are egg-shaped, elongated hills that are deposited in lowland areas.

Why are they formed?

Because the glacier, when pushing over a lowland area, is overloaded and melting, so deposits the moraine around any small obstacle, such as a rock outcrop or a small mound.

Where does most deposition occur?

Around the upstream end of the obstacle.

What happens to the rest of the boulder clay?

It is deposited behind the initial obstacle and is moulded and shaped by the ice movement. Signup and view all the answers

What is the shape of the drumlin?

Blunt at one end and tapered at the other. Signup and view all the answers

What do drumlins occur in?

Drumlins occur in groups called 'Swarms', 'Drumlin Fields', or 'Basket of Eggs', and all lie in parallel with the ice flow direction. Signup and view all the answers

Where are they found?

They are found in lowland areas of south-west Scotland and north-west England, e.g. Ribble Valley, North Yorkshire. Signup and view all the answers

What do they form?

They form a distinctive landscape of low hills each 30-40m high and 300-400m long. Signup and view all the answers

What is a drumlin diagram?

Drumlin diagram. Signup and view all the answers

What is a corrie diagram?

Corrie diagram. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Drumlins Overview

Drumlins are elongated, egg-shaped hills found in lowland areas, formed by glacial activity.

Formation Process

Formed when glaciers, overloaded and melting, deposit moraine around obstacles like rock outcrops or small mounds.

Deposition Characteristics

Deposition primarily occurs around the upstream end of the obstacle, where materials accumulate due to ice movement.

Boulder Clay

The rest of the boulder clay is deposited behind the obstacle and shaped by the flowing ice, contributing to the drumlin's formation.

Shape Description

Drumlins feature a unique shape: blunt at one end and tapered at the opposite end.

Grouping

Occur in clustered formations known as "Swarms," "Drumlin Fields," or "Basket of Eggs," all aligned parallel to the glacier's ice flow direction.

Geographic Locations

Commonly found in lowland regions of south-west Scotland and North-west England, specifically in Ribble Valley and North Yorkshire.

Landscape Impact

Form a notable landscape characterized by low hills, typically 30-40 meters high and 300-400 meters long, altering the topography significantly.

Description

This quiz focuses on drumlins, their formation, and the areas where deposition occurs. It's designed to help you understand the characteristics and causes of these unique geological features. Perfect for students studying geology or physical geography.