Glacial Periods & Processes Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What is a glacier?

A large mass of moving ice and snow on land

What is an ice sheet?

A large mass of compressed ice

What is a glacial period?

A period of cooler climate that is characterized by the advancement of glaciers

What is glacial advance?

<p>The forward movement of a glacier's toe when the supply of snow exceeds the ablation</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is glacial retreat?

<p>The movement of a glacier's toe back toward the glacier's origin; glacial retreat occurs if the rate of ablation exceeds the rate of supply.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is glacial ablation?

<p>The removal or loss of snow on a glacier. Caused by melting, evaporation, sublimination, wind erosion, and calving</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an interglacial period?

<p>A geological interval of warmer global average temperature lasting thousands of years that separates consecutive glacial periods within an ice age</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is paleoclimate?

<p>A climate prevalent at a particular time in the geological past.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are Milankovitch Cycles?

<p>Changes in the shape earth's orbit and tilt that cause glacial periods and interglacial periods.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is solar insolation?

<p>A measure of the quantity of solar radiation received on the surface of the earth in a particular region or space in a particular period of time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are glacial-interglacial cycles?

<p>Global cooling trend last 50-60 million years. Cycles driven by variation in Earth's orbit around Sun through time. Results in different amount and distribution of solar energy. These variations affect growth and melting of ice sheets</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the ice-albedo effect?

<p>ice caps reflect sunlight which leads to melting and exposed H2O which absorbs and retains sunlight. The warmer H2O melts more ice. A natural process that helps drive ice ages.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a glacial maximum?

<p>A period during which ice sheets reached their maximum extent</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Geological Time Scale?

<p>A time scale established by geologists that reflects a consistent sequence of historical periods, grouped into four eras: Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Paleolithic Era?

<p>Called the old stone age from 10,000 to 2.5 million years ago; where people were concerned with food supply; they used stone as well as bone tools; they were nomadic hunters and gatherers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Lower Paleolithic Era?

<p>The early phase of human prehistory characterized by the presence of specific tool types such as choppers, bifaces, handaxes, and cleavers</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Middle Paleolithic Era?

<p>Cultural developments: jewelry, body painting, ritual; simple ceramics; and beginning hints of art</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Pre Pottery Phase?

<p>Phase in the early Neolithic period characterized by the introduction of new subsistence strategies and the development of permanent settlements</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these are considered to be eras in the Geological Time Scale?

<p>Mesozoic</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these are key characteristics of the Paleolithic Era?

<p>Use of Stone Tools</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Middle Paleolithic Era is characterized by a lack of cultural developments.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Upper Paleolithic Era is known for the development of permanent settlements.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Mesolithic Era is considered to be the beginning of the Stone Age.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Neolithic Era is noted for the development of tools like saws and drills.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Pre Pottery Phase is characterized by a reliance on hunting and gathering for subsistence.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Pottery Phase is known for the production of simple pottery.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Glacial advance occurs when the supply of snow exceeds the rate of ablation.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

Glacial retreat is a process that only occurs in modern times.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

The ice-albedo effect is a negative feedback mechanism that helps stabilize the climate.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Milankovitch Cycles are short-term fluctuations in Earth's orbit that cause minor climate variations.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Geological Time Scale is a linear timeline that accurately reflects all events in Earth's history.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the primary reasons for the forward movement of a glacier's toe (glacial advance)?

<p>Increased snowfall</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the primary reasons for the backward movement of a glacier's toe (glacial retreat)?

<p>Increased temperatures</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Glacial Periods & Processes

  • Glacier: A large mass of moving ice and snow on land.
  • Ice Sheet: A massive, compressed ice mass.
  • Glacial Period: A cooler climate phase with glacier advancement.
  • Ice Age: An extremely cold period with extensive ice sheets.
  • Glacial Advance: Glacier movement forward due to more snow accumulation than loss.
  • Glacial Retreat: Glacier movement backward due to more ablation (loss) than snow accumulation.
  • Glacial Ablation: The removal of glacial ice (melting, evaporation, etc.).
  • Interglacial Period: A warmer period between consecutive glacial periods.
  • Paleoclimate: Past climates.
  • Milankovitch Cycles: Earth's orbital variations influencing glacial-interglacial cycles.
  • Solar Insolation: The amount of solar radiation reaching Earth.
  • Glacial-Interglacial Cycles: Cycles of cooling and warming driven by orbital changes.
  • Ice-Albedo Effect: A feedback loop where ice reflection leads to further melting and warming.
  • Glacial Maximum: The period of greatest ice sheet extent.
  • Geological Time Scale: A system for organizing Earth's history into eras, periods, and epochs.

Human Prehistory Eras

  • Paleolithic Era (Old Stone Age): From 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago, characterized by nomadic hunting and gathering.
  • Lower Paleolithic Era: The early part of the Paleolithic, with early tool development (choppers, handaxes).
  • Middle Paleolithic Era: More advanced Paleolithic phase with cultural developments like art and intricate tools.
  • Upper Paleolithic Era: Development of settlements, hunting, and more elaborate tools.
  • Mesolithic Era (Middle Stone Age): Between Paleolithic and Neolithic, with smaller, more complex tools.
  • Neolithic Era (New Stone Age): Introduction of fire, saws, drills and the beginnings of agriculture.
  • Pre-Pottery Phase: Early Neolithic period with new strategies for food and settlement.
  • Pottery Phase: The later Neolithic characterized by pottery and diverse cultures.

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Description

Test your knowledge of glacial periods and processes with this quiz. Explore concepts such as glaciers, ice sheets, and glacial advances and retreats. Understand the science behind paleoclimate and Milankovitch cycles that influence our planet's climate history.

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