Use the word bank to complete the following sentences. You may use a word more t

Question

Use the word bank to complete the following sentences. You may use a word more than once. (18 pts)

accumulation              budget                         advance                      retreat

      valley                           ice sheets                    altitude s                      wastage

      latitudes                       equal                           plastic                          slip

Glaciers are large masses of ice that accumulate on land over thousands of years and that may erode and deposit sediments for millions of years. Glaciers form in mountainous areas that are at high _____ or at high ______ where the climate is cold enough to ensure that annual snowfall equals or exceeds snow melt.

Glaciers that cover large regions of continents are called ______ or continental glaciers. Smaller glaciers that form in mountainous regions are called alpine or ______ glaciers because they form in the valleys previous occupied by streams. The regions of these glaciers where snow accumulates each year is called the zone of ___________. Here the snow transforms into glacial ice over time, flows outward and erodes underlying rock. In the case of continental ice sheets, the glacier radiates out in all directions. Alpine glaciers flow down slope within the confines of the rock valley walls. As they move, the glaciers continue to erode underlying rock and transport the sediment they produce or acquire from physical weathering and mass wasting from valley walls. The glaciers deliver their load of ice and sediment to their outermost edges where the climate is warmer allowing the ice to melt each year. This outer portion of the glacier is called the ________zone or zone of ablation where the glacier deposits the sediments eroded along its path.

Glacial ice moves by two processes. At their bases, glaciers encounter friction with the underlying rock. As a result, some of the ice melts at the contact with the ground allowing meltwater to act as a lubricant causing the glacier to move by basal ______. Molecules of glacial ice are layered with weak bonding at the bedding planes between layers. As the glacial ice thickens, pressure increases allowing the deeper layers of ice to slide at the bedding planes. The ice then flows like a fluid within the glacier, a process called ____ flow.

During their life span, glaciers will go through numerous cycles of advance, retreat, and stagnation. The glacial ______ is determined by measuring the relationship between the amount of snow fall and snow melt annually. When the amount of snow received in the zone of ________ exceeds the snow melt in the _______zone, the glacier will _____. It is during these periods when the glacier grows in size and does the greatest amount of erosion. When annual snow fall and melt are _____the glacier stagnates. The glacier will continue to erode and deposit, but the ice itself will neither ________ nor ________. When the amount of snow received in the zone of ________ is less than the amount of snow melt in the ________zone, the glacier will ________. This means that the size of the glacier diminishes and the glacier accomplishes more deposition than erosion.

Explanation / Answer

Here, its all about the glacier and its features. The paragraph deals with the accumulation, melting and the balance between the two along with the effect of these on glacier retreat or advancement.

Glaciers are large masses of ice that accumulate on land over thousands of years and that may erode and deposit sediments for millions of years. Glaciers form in mountainous areas that are at high altitude or at high latitude where the climate is cold enough to ensure that annual snowfall equals or exceeds snow melt.

Glaciers that cover large regions of continents are called ice sheets or continental glaciers. Smaller glaciers that form in mountainous regions are called alpine or valley glaciers because they form in the valleys previous occupied by streams. The regions of these glaciers where snow accumulates each year is called the zone of accumulation. Here the snow transforms into glacial ice over time, flows outward and erodes underlying rock. In the case of continental ice sheets, the glacier radiates out in all directions. Alpine glaciers flow down slope within the confines of the rock valley walls. As they move, the glaciers continue to erode underlying rock and transport the sediment they produce or acquire from physical weathering and mass wasting from valley walls. The glaciers deliver their load of ice and sediment to their outermost edges where the climate is warmer allowing the ice to melt each year. This outer portion of the glacier is called the wastage zone or zone of ablation where the glacier deposits the sediments eroded along its path.

Glacial ice moves by two processes. At their bases, glaciers encounter friction with the underlying rock. As a result, some of the ice melts at the contact with the ground allowing meltwater to act as a lubricant causing the glacier to move by basal slip. Molecules of glacial ice are layered with weak bonding at the bedding planes between layers. As the glacial ice thickens, pressure increases allowing the deeper layers of ice to slide at the bedding planes. The ice then flows like a fluid within the glacier, a process called plastic flow.

During their life span, glaciers will go through numerous cycles of advance, retreat, and stagnation. The glacial budget is determined by measuring the relationship between the amount of snow fall and snow melt annually. When the amount of snow received in the zone of accumulation exceeds the snow melt in the wastage zone, the glacier will advance. It is during these periods when the glacier grows in size and does the greatest amount of erosion. When annual snow fall and melt are equal the glacier stagnates. The glacier will continue to erode and deposit, but the ice itself will neither advance nor retreat. When the amount of snow received in the zone of accumulation is less than the amount of snow melt in the wastage zone, the glacier will retreat. This means that the size of the glacier diminishes and the glacier accomplishes more deposition than erosion.

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