GEOG 1040H

Lab 2
Glacial Landforms
 •formed by the erosional activity of glaciers. It is characterized by its U-
U-shaped Valley shaped cross-sectional profile, with steep, straight sides and a flat or gently
sloping bottom. Glaciers widen and deepen pre-existing V-shaped valleys
through the process of abrasion and plucking, transforming them into the
U-shape as the glacier advances and erodes the bedrock.
Hanging Glacial
Trough (or
Hanging Valley)
•formed when a smaller glacier
tributary erodes a shallower valley
alongside a main glacier-carved valley.
Due to differences in glacial erosion,
the hanging valley is left perched
above the main valley, creating a
distinct elevation difference. This often
results in waterfalls or cascades as the
smaller stream from the hanging valley
enters the main valley.
Sandur
•a broad, flat plain or valley floor
composed of sand, gravel, and
sediment that forms when glacial
meltwater transports and deposits
material at the terminus of a glacier
Proglacial River

•a river that flows directly from or

near the terminus of a glacier,
carrying meltwater runoff. These
play a role in transporting sediment
and debris eroded by the glacier,
shaping the surrounding landscape
and contributing to the deposition
of glacial sediment in downstream
areas.
Ice-dammed
lake
•A lake that forms behind a natural
dam made of glacial ice. Meltwater
accumulates in a depression
created by the glacier. They can
pose a hazard if the ice dam
suddenly ruptures, causing a rapid
release of water downstream
 •forms when a block of ice becomes detached from a retreating

Kettle Lake glacier and is buried by glacial till or sediments. As the ice block
melts, it leaves behind a depression that fills with water, creating
a circular or irregularly shaped lake
Terminal (push)
Moraine
•forms at the farthest point
reached by a glacier's advance. It is
a ridge or accumulation of debris
and sediment, including rocks,
gravel, sand, and clay, deposited by
the glacier as it melts and retreats.
Terminal moraines mark the
outermost extent of a glacier's
movement and serve as indicators
of past glacial activity.
Lateral
Moraine
•a ridge or accumulation of
debris and sediment that forms
along the sides of a glacier as it
moves and erodes the
surrounding terrain. Lateral
moraines mark the edges of a
glacier's flow and can be
composed of rock fragments,
soil, and other materials
transported and deposited by
the glacier's movement.
Medial
Moraine
•a linear accumulation of debris
and sediment that forms when two
glaciers merge and their lateral
moraines combine along the
centerline of the newly formed
glacier. This distinctive ridge runs
down the middle of the glacier,
showcasing the merging of two
separate ice flows.
Arete
•a sharp, narrow ridge of rock that
forms when two glaciers erode
parallel valleys on either side of a
mountain or ridge. The erosional
process removes material from
both sides, creating a distinct, often
knife-like ridge that separates the
adjacent valleys.
Cirque
•a deep, amphitheater-like hollow
or basin carved into the
mountainside by glacial erosion. It
is typically found at the head of a
glacier and is characterized by
steep walls and a flat or concave
floor, often containing a small lake
or tarn.
Horn
•created through the erosional activity
of multiple glaciers. It forms when
several glaciers erode the sides of a
single mountain peak or summit from
different directions, creating steep,
triangular-shaped slopes converging at
the top. The intense glacial erosion
results in the removal of rock and
sediment from all sides, leaving behind
a pointed and rugged peak.
 •A nunatak is a prominent rocky peak or ridge that rises above the
surface of an ice sheet, glacier, or snowfield. Essentially an isolated
Nunatuk mountain or hill, a nunatak remains uncovered by ice due to its
higher elevation, standing as a stark contrast to the surrounding ice
and snow.
 •A small, often circular or oval, mountain lake or pool that forms
Tarn within a cirque, a glacially carved basin on the side of a mountain.
Tarns are typically surrounded by steep slopes or cliffs and are often
fed by glacial meltwater or precipitation, creating serene and
picturesque alpine landscapes.
 •A smoothly elongated hill or mound composed of glacial till. Drumlins form
underneath glaciers as they move and reshape the landscape, with their
Drumlin steep end facing the direction from which the glacier advanced. They are
often found clustered together in areas that were once covered by glaciers,
creating unique topographical patterns.
Esker

•A long, winding ridge or mound of

sediment and gravel that was deposited
by a meltwater stream within or
underneath a glacier. Formed during the
retreat of a glacier, an esker typically runs
parallel to the glacier's direction of
movement and can extend for several
kilometers. It is a remnant of the stream
that flowed within or beneath the ice,
leaving behind its accumulated sediment
as the glacier melted.
Glacial Erratics

• a large rock or boulder that has been

transported and deposited by a glacier
far from its original source. These rocks
are often distinct from the surrounding
geological formations, as they can differ
in size, type, and composition.