Glacier Model (in class activity)
1. What term is used to describe the loss of ice through melting, sublimation,
wind erosion, or calving?
2. What condition is satisfied at the equilibrium line?
3. For a vertical line passing down through the ice, the flow speed of ice is
greatest near the
a. air-ice interface b. ground-ice interface c. in the middle of the ice sheet
4. For the glacier above where is the surface flow speed likely largest? A B
or C
5. For the glacial model used in class, when the surface air temperature
increases the altitude of the equilibrium line
a. Increases
b. decreases
6. For the glacial model used in class, when the snow fall rate increases the
altitude of the equilibrium line
a. Increases
b. decreases
7. For the glacial model used in class, what is the assumed atmospheric lapse
rate?
8. Ablation _____________________ with increasing
Altitude.
Decreases
or increases
9. For a snowfall rate of 1.0 m per year, what sea level temperature causes
the model glacier to disappear?
10. Start with a surface temperature of 19.0 oC and a snowfall rate of 1.0 m/yr.
What is the length of the glacier for this “control run”? L=________________
19.0 oC , 1.0 m/yr.
What is the glacier’s length for a temperature of 19.2 oC and a snowfall rate of
1.0 m/yr?
L=____________________ 19.2 oC , 1.0 m/yr.
What is the glacier’s length for a temperature of 19.0 oC and a snowfall rate of
1.2 m/yr?
L=____________________ 19.0 oC , 1.2 m/yr.
Which condition would give the largest Glacier?
Predict
19.0 oC , 1.0 m/yr. or 19.4 and 1.3 m/yr
Test 19.0 oC , 1.0 m/yr. or 19.4 and 1.3 m/yr