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Glaciated Landscapes

Factors affecting the rate of glacial erosion

  • 2 things to know
  • Component 1 Section A

Overview

How ice thickness influences erosion and why altitude and aspect influence how much erosion occurs.

What you need to know

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Key term

Why does the basal thermal regime control the rate of erosion?

Key term

How does ice velocity affect erosion?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Why does the basal thermal regime control the rate of erosion?

    Model answer

    Warm-based ice slides over its bed and carries meltwater, so abrasion and plucking both operate. Cold-based ice is frozen to the rock and can do almost nothing.

  2. 2

    How does ice velocity affect erosion?

    Model answer

    Faster ice drags its debris load across the bedrock more often in a given time. Rates of abrasion rise roughly in proportion to the sliding speed.

  3. 3

    Explain how ice thickness influences erosion.

    Model answer

    Thick ice presses the basal debris harder against the bedrock, which increases abrasion. Very thick ice can, however, press so hard that the debris stops moving and abrasion falls.

  4. 4

    How does bedrock permeability affect glacial erosion?

    Model answer

    Permeable bedrock lets basal meltwater drain away into the rock. Less water remains at the bed, so sliding and plucking are both reduced.

  5. 5

    Why does jointing increase the rate of erosion?

    Model answer

    Joints divide the rock into blocks that meltwater can penetrate and freeze around. Plucking can then remove whole blocks rather than single grains.

  6. 6

    How does the amount of basal debris affect abrasion?

    Model answer

    A moderate load of hard, angular debris gives the fastest abrasion. Too little debris leaves nothing to cut with, and too much clogs the base and slows sliding.

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