Junior Cycle Geography CYCLONE Features of Glacial Erosion 4 Pyramidal peak 5 Arête 6
Paternoster lakes
3 Tarn 2 Cirques 1
Glaciated valley
4. Features of glacial erosion
7 Truncated spur 8 Hanging valley
1 Glaciated valley : This is a V-shaped valley which has been straightened and flattened by the movement of a large glacier to become a U-shaped valley.
2 Cirque : Also known as a ‘corrie’, this is a large hollow on the side of a mountain. It has three steep sides and is the birthplace of a glacier.
3 Tarn : This is a lake inside a cirque. 4 Pyramidal peak : This is a steep-sided pyramid-shaped mountain that was eroded on all sides by many cirques. 5 Arête : This is a narrow, steep-sided ridge, usually between two cirques.
6 Paternoster lakes : When a long, narrow lake occupies the floor of a glaciated valley, it is called a ribbon lake. When a few ribbon lakes are linked, they are called paternoster lakes.
7 Truncated spur : This was originally an interlocking spur that was eroded, having its ‘head’ cut off as the glacier moved through the valley.
8 Hanging valley : This is a small tributary valley that hangs above the main glaciated valley. Question Time
1. Where in the world can we still find ice sheets today? 2. Ice wears away the landscape by erosion. (a) Name the two processes of glacial erosion. (b) Explain how each process erodes the landscape.
3. Explain the following terms: (a) truncated spur, (b) hanging valley, (c) pyramidal peak, (d) paternoster lake.