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Glacial Processes

A glacier is an area covered by an ice sheet.


The action of ice has changed the appearance of the earths surface.
The study of the formation and behaviour of ice is known as glaciology.

Processes of Glacial erosion:


1. Plucking: is the result of ice melting into the ground. When it freezes the glaciers
plucks rocks from the ground and drags them along with it.
2. Abrasion: The material carried by the glacier scrapes and scours the ground which
it passes over.
Glacial Transportation
Glaciers carry large loads, which can be fine sediment or large boulders.
The material may be carried on, within, beneath or in front of the glacier.
The movement can be due to melt water, extrusion flow ( the process of
pushing out) or gravity.
Glacial deposition
Glaciers deposit material when the ice sheet melts.
A glacier carries rock waste called moraines, boulder clay or till.
Large quantities of water are released and rock waste is deposited.
This meltwater deposition is term fluvioglacial.
The material contained within the meltwater deposition is termed fluvioglacial
deposits.
The area where the ice melted and deposition occurred is called the zone of
ablation.
Glacial Erosion Features
Pyramidal peak
U-shaped valley
Hanging valley
Arte
Ribbon Lake
Glacial Trough
Cirue
Spillway
Glacial Deposition Features
Moraines lateral/medial/terminal/recessional
Crag and tail
Erratics
Drumlins
Outwash plain

Esker
Coastal Marine Processes
There are many types of coast due to the processes of marine coastal erosion and
deposition.
Processes of coastal erosion
The rate of erosion depends on the wave type, shape of coast, breaking point of
waves and rock resistance or structure
Hydraulic Action: the force of the waves crashing off the coast, especially when
the trap and compress air in the cracks and holes in the cliff.
Corrasion: Hurling of particles at cliff surfaces, like sandblasting a building.
Attrition: Waves causing rocks and pebbles to smash into each other and break
down in size.
Corrosion: The acids in sea water dissolving or decomposing material.
Coastal Erosion Features:
Cliff
Arch
Wave cut platform
Bay
Stump
Cave
Stack
Headland
Blowhole
Coastal Transportation
Material within the sea is transported by waves, tides and currents.
The material carried is called the load.
The process of transport is known as longshore drift, which involves the action of
swash and backwash.
Swash- is the wave mvt up the beach traveling at an angle
Backwash bring the sediment back out to sea.
Fetch is the duration and distance which influence wave development.
Coastal Deposition Features
Deposition depends on the type of coastline, type of waves & the material
carried by the sea.
Constructive or spilling waves are low energy which deposit materials and
build beaches.
Destructive or plunging waves are high energy which will remove sand from
the beach.
A sheltered coastline will result in deposition.

Beach
Tombolo
Salt Marsh
Bar
Mud Flats
Spit
Lagoon

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