Glacio-fluvial landforms

Created by

Jacky Pereira

Cards (28)

What are glacio-fluvial landforms?
Landforms that are formed by meltwater
When do glacial periods end?
When global temperatures rise and fluctuate
What are outwash materials?
Materials deposited by meltwater
What are the characteristics of outwash?
Finer materials, smoother and rounder, sorted, and stratified
When do meltwater streams have a higher discharge?
In the summer months
What is a jokulhlaup? 
Extreme glacial outbursts caused by geothermal/volcanic activities
What is a Kame?
Hills or hummocks composed of stratified sand/gravel laid down by meltwater
What are the two types of Kames?
Delta Kames and Kame Terraces
Where are Delta Kames formed?
East Lothian, Scotland
What are Delta Kames? 
Icy land formed when meltwater streams flow through or around outwash
How is a Delta Kame formed? 
Some are formed by englacial streams emerging at the snout of the glacier, losing energy and depositing their load
Where are Kame Terraces found?
Kingsdale valley of the Yorkshire Dale
What is a Kame terrace?
Ridges of material running along the edge of the valley floor
How do Kame terraces form?
Supraglacial streams on the edge of the glacier carry lateral moraine, which is deposited on the valley sides
What is an Esker?
A long sinuous ridge composed of stratified sand/gravel laid down by meltwater
How is an Esker formed?
Material is deposited in subglacial tunnels as the supply of meltwater decreases at the end of a glacial period
What happens when deposition occurs in the formation of an Esker?
Pressure is released and meltwater is released at the snout, moving the point of deposition backwards
What is an outwash plain?
A flat expanse of sediment in the pro-glacial area
How is an outwash plain formed?
Meltwater streams gradually lose energy as they enter lowland areas, depositing their load
What are outwash plains drained by?
Braided streams
What are braided streams?
River channels that are subdivided into more channels
How do braided streams form?
Braiding begins with a mid-channel bar that grows downstream, causing the channel to divide
What causes the material deposited in braided streams to divide?
The material deposited in the channel causes it to divide
What happens to discharge after a flood or period of ablation in braided streams?
Discharge decreases, causing coarser material to be dropped first
How do temperatures affect glacio-fluvial landforms?
As temperatures rise, more meltwater and vegetation are formed, leading to longer kames and bigger outwash plains and eskers
What is post-glacial modification?
Upland elevations and continued fluvial processes; isotonic readjustment due to no pressure
What is a Kettle?
A large depression in the ground formed by glacial deposition
How are Kettles formed?
When large blocks of ice become stranded and buried by deposited meltwater, leaving a depression when the ice evaporates