Fill valleys and can be several kilometers long (e.g Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand in 12 kilometers long)
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What are Corrie Glaciers?
Smaller Glaciers, found in a bowl-shaped hollows high up in mountains (e.g Lower Curtis Glacier in Washington State USA)
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What are Ice Sheets?
Domes of ice covering huge areas of land (e.g. the Antarctic Ice Sheet)
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What is the Climate like in a Glacial environment?
Temperatures are cold enough for ice to be present all year round, in summer meltwater affects glaciers. Most glacial environments have high snowfall, but in extremely cold areas, ice sheets and glaciers can persist even when snowfall is very low.
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What is the soil and vegetation like in Glacial environments?
Covered in ice permanently, so no exposed soil. Very few plants, thought algae and moss may grow on glacier surface surface during summer.
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What do Polar areas surround?
The North and South Poles
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What are many of the Artic polar environments made up of?
Northern land areas of Asia, North America and Europe
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What do land-based polar environments include?
Can include glaical environments, e.g. the Greenland Ice Sheet and Periglacial environments, e.g. northern Russia.
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What is the Climate like in a Polar environment?
Very cold, never normally above 10 degrees. Winters = normally below -40 degrees and can reach -90 degrees. Precipitation is low (100mm a year). Clearly defines seasons - cold summers and freezing winters.
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What is the soil like in Polar environments?
Much of ground is covered in ice, when soil is exposed, tends to be thin and nutrient-poor. Permafrost beneath soil.
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What is the vegetation like in Polar environments?
Very few plants - some lichens and mosses found on rocks, few grasses in warmer areas, e.g. coast of Antarctica and some part of the Artic.
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What are Periglacial Environments?
Places where temperature is frequently or constantly below freezing, but not covered by ice.
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What is the climate like in Periglacial Environments?
Cold and precipitation is fairly low (380mm or less). Clearly defined seasons (brief, mild summers and long,cold winters).
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What is the soil like in Periglacial Environments?
Thin, acidic and not very fertile. Normally a permafrost layer, topped with layer of soil that melts in summer
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What is the vegetation like in Periglacial Environments?
PLants grow slowly, dont grow tall, grasses are most common plant. Some small, short trees grow in warmer, sheltered areas. Nearer poles, only mosses and lichens can survive.
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What are Alpine Environments?
Cold areas of land at an altitude above the treeline (limit of area where trees can grow - above if its too cold).
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What might Alpine Environments include?
Areas of glacial conditions (at higher altitudes) and periglacial conditions (at lower temperatures).
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What is the climate like in Alpine Environments?
Winter are cold, but summers are mild. temperature decreases as altitude increases. Snowfall can be high.
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What is the soil like in Alpine Environments?
When ice melts in summer, soil is exposed in some areas. Higher up, land is permanently covered by snow and ice and lower down periglacial soils are present.
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What is the vegetation like in Alpine Environments?
Seasonally exposed soil means plants can grow, e.g. grasses and alpine flowers.
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
What are Corrie Glaciers?
Back
Smaller Glaciers, found in a bowl-shaped hollows high up in mountains (e.g Lower Curtis Glacier in Washington State USA)
Card 3
Front
What are Ice Sheets?
Back
Card 4
Front
What is the Climate like in a Glacial environment?
Back
Card 5
Front
What is the soil and vegetation like in Glacial environments?
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