Topic Summaries

Glacial processes

IGCSE > Geography > Pearson IGCSE > IGCSE Geography Topic Summaries > Glacial landscapes > Glacial processes
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Weather hazards and atmospheric circulation

Hot desert ecosystems

Cold environment ecosystems

Glacial landscapes

Glacial landform processes

Energy supply

  • Plucking: loose bedrock freezes and is pulled away as the glacier moves, creating a jagged surface.
  • Abrasion: rocks at the bottom of the glacier scrape and smooth bedrock.
  • Freeze-thaw weathering: water enters cracks in a rock, freezes, and expands, breaking the rock apart.
  • Bulldozing: occurs when the glacier’s snout (front) pushes loose material (e.g. rocks, soil) downhill.
  • Rotational slip: occurs when meltwater at the base of a glacier reduces friction, allowing the glacier to slide downhill.
  • Glacial till: unsorted material deposited by a glacier.
  • Outwash: sediment (sand, gravel, silt) deposited by meltwater from a glacier, usually sorted and found in outwash plains.

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