Question 1

Once astronomical factors initiate a period of glaciation, how does albedo reinforce global cooling?

Accepted Answer

Albedo is the percentage of incoming solar radiation reflected from the surface of the Earth. When astronomical factors initiate a period of glaciation, the increased ice and snow reflect an increased higher percentage of incoming solar radiation back into space. Thus there is less available to warm the Earth's surface, the climate cools even further, and the cycle of increased global cooling continues.

Question 2

Discuss the glacial budget.

Accepted Answer

The budget of a glacier is the difference between the glacier's annual accumulation of snow and ice and its annual loss, or ablation, of snow and ice due to melting and sublimation. If accumulation is greater than ablation, the budget is positive, and the glacier will grow and its terminus will advance. If accumulation is less than ablation, the budget is negative, and the glacier will decrease in size and its terminus will recede. If accumulation and ablation are equal, the budget is balanced, and the size of the glacier and the location of its terminus will remain stationary.

Question 3

What are eskers, and how do they form?

Accepted Answer

Eskers are long, sinuous ridges composed of glacial drift. They range in length between less than 1 kilometer and more than 150 kilometers, and can be 30 meters high. Eskers form beneath the zone of ablation of a glacier as meltwater flowing along a glacier's bed carves S- shaped bedrock channels and deposits sand and gravel in them.

Question 4

Glaciers are classified by:

Accepted Answer

A)  their size. 
B)  their degree of confinement. 
C)  their rate of growth. 
D)  the rate at which their ice flows. 
A)  their size. 
B)  their degree of confinement. 
C)  their rate of growth. 
D)  the rate at which their ice flows.

Question 5

During major glaciations, sea level was 130 meters lower than at present, facilitating land migration between:

Accepted Answer

A)  North America and Asia. 
B)  Asia and Australia. 
C)  Europe and North America. 
D)  Africa and South America. 
A)  North America and Asia. 
B)  Asia and Australia. 
C)  Europe and North America. 
D)  Africa and South America.

Question 6

A submerged U- shaped valley is called a(n):

Accepted Answer

A)  col. 
B)  arete. 
C)  hanging valley. 
D)  fjord. 
A)  col. 
B)  arete. 
C)  hanging valley. 
D)  fjord.

Question 7

Which of the following explains the rapid disappearance of eskers?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are being eroded by the flooding of old meltwater stream beds. 
B)  They are being mined for sand and gravel. 
C)  They are being leveled for housing developments. 
D)  They are being mined for valuable ore. 
A)  They are being eroded by the flooding of old meltwater stream beds. 
B)  They are being mined for sand and gravel. 
C)  They are being leveled for housing developments. 
D)  They are being mined for valuable ore.

Question 8

The 700 million year old tillite found worldwide indicates an Ice Age centered in the:

Accepted Answer

A)  alpine regions. 
B)  equatorial regions. 
C)  desert regions. 
D)  polar regions. 
A)  alpine regions. 
B)  equatorial regions. 
C)  desert regions. 
D)  polar regions.

Question 9

Which of the following statements about glacial flow is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  In the accumulation zone, ice flows down toward the glacier's bed. 
B)  In basal sliding, a glacier slides along its bed on a film of water. 
C)  In extremely cold climates, glaciers flow more by basal sliding than by internal deformation. 
D)  In internal deformation, ice flows because crystals slide past one another under pressure. 
A)  In the accumulation zone, ice flows down toward the glacier's bed. 
B)  In basal sliding, a glacier slides along its bed on a film of water. 
C)  In extremely cold climates, glaciers flow more by basal sliding than by internal deformation. 
D)  In internal deformation, ice flows because crystals slide past one another under pressure.

Question 10

Describe how the Earth's temperatures have fluctuated over the past 65 million years.

Accepted Answer

Until 65 million years ago, average glob

Question 11

A medial moraine forms:

Accepted Answer

A)  along the sides of a glacier. 
B)  where two valley glaciers merge. 
C)  beneath a glacier in a sinuous ridge. 
D)  where a glacier terminus advances beyond a recessional moraine. 
A)  along the sides of a glacier. 
B)  where two valley glaciers merge. 
C)  beneath a glacier in a sinuous ridge. 
D)  where a glacier terminus advances beyond a recessional moraine.

Question 12

Which of the following statements about glaciers is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Valley glaciers flow in preexisting stream valleys. 
B)  Piedmont glaciers begin as alpine glaciers but flow onto an adjacent lowland. 
C)  Continental ice sheets are confined glaciers that move over low- lying continental areas. 
D)  Cirque glaciers create and occupy semicircular basins on mountain sides. 
A)  Valley glaciers flow in preexisting stream valleys. 
B)  Piedmont glaciers begin as alpine glaciers but flow onto an adjacent lowland. 
C)  Continental ice sheets are confined glaciers that move over low- lying continental areas. 
D)  Cirque glaciers create and occupy semicircular basins on mountain sides.

Question 13

The term "glacial drift" applies to:

Accepted Answer

A)  glacial deposits that are carried by meltwater into nearby streams. 
B)  glacial deposits of very fine particles that eventually become wind- blown. 
C)  all glacial deposits, collectively. 
D)  the redistribution of glacial deposits by consecutive advances. 
A)  glacial deposits that are carried by meltwater into nearby streams. 
B)  glacial deposits of very fine particles that eventually become wind- blown. 
C)  all glacial deposits, collectively. 
D)  the redistribution of glacial deposits by consecutive advances.

Question 14

List the Earth's past episodes of continental glaciation.

Accepted Answer

There were at least three ice ages durin

Question 15

Loess is a soil formed by:

Accepted Answer

A)  meltwater deposits of sand and gravel. 
B)  wind- blown deposits of outwash silt. 
C)  glacial advances over previously deposited moraines. 
D)  a mixture of sand and clay at the bottom of a meltwater lake. 
A)  meltwater deposits of sand and gravel. 
B)  wind- blown deposits of outwash silt. 
C)  glacial advances over previously deposited moraines. 
D)  a mixture of sand and clay at the bottom of a meltwater lake.

Question 16

Describe the factors beyond the initial snowfall that influence the formation and growth of glaciers in mountainous regions.

Accepted Answer

Four factors, beyond the initial snowfal

Question 17

In the alpine highlands of North America, Europe, and Asia, the most effective geologic shaping process would be:

Accepted Answer

A)  wind erosion. 
B)  stream erosion. 
C)  erosion by glaciers. 
D)  mass- movement. 
A)  wind erosion. 
B)  stream erosion. 
C)  erosion by glaciers. 
D)  mass- movement.

Question 18

How does plate tectonics contribute to the initiation of an ice age? In what ways can plate tectonics not account for the ice ages?

Accepted Answer

Many geologists have concluded that, for

Question 19

Which of the following statements about drumlins is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Drumlins are composed of unsorted, unstratified glacial drift. 
B)  Drumlins are oriented parallel to terminal moraines. 
C)  Drumlins are formed by continental ice sheets rather than by alpine glaciers. 
D)  Drumlins are elongated, asymmetrical hills. 
A)  Drumlins are composed of unsorted, unstratified glacial drift. 
B)  Drumlins are oriented parallel to terminal moraines. 
C)  Drumlins are formed by continental ice sheets rather than by alpine glaciers. 
D)  Drumlins are elongated, asymmetrical hills.

Question 20

How are human activities having an effect on global temperatures?

Accepted Answer

The activities of humans may be contribu

Once astronomical factors initiate a period of glaciation, how does albedo reinforce global cooling?

Discuss the glacial budget.

What are eskers, and how do they form?

Glaciers are classified by:

During major glaciations, sea level was 130 meters lower than at present, facilitating land migration between:

A submerged U- shaped valley is called a(n):

Which of the following explains the rapid disappearance of eskers?

The 700 million year old tillite found worldwide indicates an Ice Age centered in the:

Which of the following statements about glacial flow is NOT true?

Describe how the Earth's temperatures have fluctuated over the past 65 million years.

A medial moraine forms:

Which of the following statements about glaciers is NOT true?

The term "glacial drift" applies to:

List the Earth's past episodes of continental glaciation.

Loess is a soil formed by:

Describe the factors beyond the initial snowfall that influence the formation and growth of glaciers in mountainous regions.

In the alpine highlands of North America, Europe, and Asia, the most effective geologic shaping process would be:

How does plate tectonics contribute to the initiation of an ice age? In what ways can plate tectonics not account for the ice ages?

Which of the following statements about drumlins is NOT true?

How are human activities having an effect on global temperatures?

A First Look at Planet Earth - Its Origins, Systems, and Tectonic Plates

Minerals

Igneous Rocks and Processes

Volcanoes and Volcanism

Weathering - the Breakdown of Rocks

Sedimentary Processes, Environments, and Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Telling Time Geologically

Earth Structures - Folds, Faults, and Fabrics

Earthquakes

The Earths Interior - Whats Going on Down There

Plate Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Oceans

Continental Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Continents

Mass Movement

Streams and Floods

Groundwater

Deserts and the Work of Winds

Shores and Coastal Processes

Human Use of the Earths Resources Appendices Glossary

Filters

Exam 17: Glaciers and Ice Ages

Once astronomical factors initiate a period of glaciation, how does albedo reinforce global cooling?

Discuss the glacial budget.

What are eskers, and how do they form?

Glaciers are classified by:

During major glaciations, sea level was 130 meters lower than at present, facilitating land migration between:

A submerged U- shaped valley is called a(n):

Which of the following explains the rapid disappearance of eskers?

The 700 million year old tillite found worldwide indicates an Ice Age centered in the:

Which of the following statements about glacial flow is NOT true?

Describe how the Earth's temperatures have fluctuated over the past 65 million years.

A medial moraine forms:

Which of the following statements about glaciers is NOT true?

The term "glacial drift" applies to:

List the Earth's past episodes of continental glaciation.

Loess is a soil formed by:

Describe the factors beyond the initial snowfall that influence the formation and growth of glaciers in mountainous regions.

In the alpine highlands of North America, Europe, and Asia, the most effective geologic shaping process would be:

How does plate tectonics contribute to the initiation of an ice age? In what ways can plate tectonics not account for the ice ages?

Which of the following statements about drumlins is NOT true?

How are human activities having an effect on global temperatures?

A First Look at Planet Earth - Its Origins, Systems, and Tectonic Plates

Minerals

Igneous Rocks and Processes

Volcanoes and Volcanism

Weathering - the Breakdown of Rocks

Sedimentary Processes, Environments, and Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Telling Time Geologically

Earth Structures - Folds, Faults, and Fabrics

Earthquakes

The Earths Interior - Whats Going on Down There

Plate Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Oceans

Continental Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Continents

Mass Movement

Streams and Floods

Groundwater

Deserts and the Work of Winds

Shores and Coastal Processes

Human Use of the Earths Resources Appendices Glossary

Filters