Year 9 - Geography
Glacial landforms
Ice and glaciers: How are cold places affected by a warming planet?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit teaches pupils about the physical processes that influence cold places around the world and how areas of ice have changed over time due to climatic variations. Pupils will learn about the impact of global warming on glaciated areas and what this means for the future of our planet.
Lesson Summary
You understand how glaciers shape the landscape through erosion and you can identify and describe key glacial landforms.
Key Notes
- Glaciers create wide U-shaped valleys through the process of erosion.
- Truncated spurs are formed when a glacier cuts off interlocking spurs.
- Corries are bowl-shaped hollows found on the side of hills and mountains.
- Aretes are sharp peaks formed by two glaciers wearing down either side of a mountain.
Vocabulary To Learn
- corrie: a steep-sided hollow at the head of a valley or on a mountainside
- truncated spur: a ridge that ends in a steep cliff face where an interlocking spur formed by rivers has been cut off by a glacier
- arete: a narrow ridge of rock between two valleys
- u-shaped valley: a valley with steep, straight sides and a flat bottom, formed by the movement and scouring action of a glacier
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Truncated spurs are created soley by glaciers.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.
Glaciers create wide U-shaped valleys through the process of erosion. Truncated spurs are formed when a glacier cuts off interlocking spurs.
2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'corrie'
a steep-sided hollow at the head of a valley or on a mountainside.
3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.
Mistake: Truncated spurs are created soley by glaciers. Correction: Truncated spurs started as interlocking spurs which are a fluvial feature formed by rivers. Glaciers then modify this landform through erosion.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Antarctic food webs Study Guide
- Antarctica: A frozen wilderness Study Guide
- Climate change in polar regions Study Guide
- Countries in the Arctic Study Guide
- Evidence of glaciation in the UK Study Guide
- Glacial processes Study Guide
- Glacier formation Study Guide
- Ice change over time Study Guide
- Protecting Antarctica Study Guide
- The Arctic Tundra Study Guide
- The Mer De Glace Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 9 Geography guide library.