Cold Environments Exam Questions
SPEC
The global
distribution of
cold
environments
– polar (land
and marine
based), alpine,
glacial and
periglacial.
Glaciers as
systems –
glacial
budgets.
Additional
sample Qs
Exemplar
01/06/2009
01/01/2010
01/06/2010
01/01/2011
01/06/2011
01/01/2012
2 (a) Outline
the global
distribution of
alpine cold
environments.
(4)
A (ii) Outline
how a glacier
mass balance
might change
over time.
(3).
2 (b) Explain
why the
snouts of
glaciers
advance and
retreat. (4)
2 (a) Study
Figure 3
which
shows the
changing
lengths of
three
glaciers in
the Alps. 2
(a) (i)
Describe
the trends
shown in
Figure 3.
(3). 2 (a) (ii)
Suggest
reasons for
the trends
shown in
Figure 3.
(4)
2 (a) Study
Figure 3
which shows
net mass
balances for
the Gulkana
glacier in
Alaska
and the
Greenland ice
sheet.
Describe the
trends shown
in Figure 3.
(4)
Ice movement
– types of flow:
internal
deformation,
rotational,
compressional,
extensional
and basal
sliding; warm
and cold
based glaciers.
Glacial
processes and
landscape
development.
Weathering in
cold
environments
– frost
shattering.
Erosional
landforms –
corries, arêtes,
pyramidal
peaks, glacial
(b) (i)
Distinguish
between
warm and
cold-based
glaciers. (4)
Outline the
process of
frost
shattering
and outline
how this
process might
contribute to
glacial
erosion. (4)
Study the
photograph.
What
evidence is
there that
2 (b) (i) With
reference to
Figures 4a
and 4b,
distinguish
between
warm based
and cold
based
glaciers.
(3). 2 (b) (ii)
With the
help of
Figures 4a
and 4b,
explain how
ice moves
by basal
sliding. (5)
2 (a) Describe
the pattern of
ice movement
shown in
Figure 3. (4)
2 (b) Study
Figure 4
which shows
two types of
ice
movement. 2
(b) (i) Identify
the types of
movement
shown at X
and Y. (2) 2
(b) (ii) Define
the term
'internal
deformation'.
(2)
02 (b)
Outline the
process of
frost
shattering.
01 (b)
Explain why
a river valley
changes in
its cross
profile
downstream.
(7)
2 (c) Describe
the
characteristics
of drumlins
and suggest
2 (b) (i)
Describe the
landforms
resulting from
glacial
2 (a) (i)
Describe the
types of
moraine
shown in
troughs and
associated
features.
Depositional
landforms –
types of
moraine and
drumlins.
Fluvioglacial
processes –
the role of
meltwater
erosion and
deposition.
Fluvioglacial
landforms –
meltwater
channels,
kames, eskers
and outwash
plains.
Periglacial
processes –
nivation,
permafrost
formation, frost
heave,
solifluction.
Periglacial
landforms –
nivation
suggests that
this
landscape
has been
affected by
glacial
erosion? (7)
reasons for
their
formation. (7)
erosion
shown in
Figure 3. (4).
2 (b) (ii)
Choose one
of the
landforms of
glacial
erosion
shown in
Figure 3.
Name the
landform and
explain its
formation. (7)
Zone A of
Figure 2. (4)
2 (a) (ii)
Explain the
origin of the
moraine
shown in
Zone A of
Figure 2. (4)
2 (c) Assess
the role of
meltwater
erosion and
deposition
in the
formation of
fluvioglacial
landforms.
(15)
Suggest how
solifluction
lobes form in
periglacial
environments.
(4)
B (ii) Explain
the formation
of patterned
ground in
periglacial
environments.
(7)
2 (a) Define
the term
‘periglacial’.
(2). 02 (c)
Explain the
annual
changes in
the active
layer above
the
2 (b) (i)
Define the
term
‘periglacial’.
(2) 2 (b) (ii)
Outline
periglacial
processes
likely to be
occurring
2 (c) Draw a
labelled
sketch to
show
characteristics
of a pingo and
suggest an
explanation
for its
formation. (7)
hollows, ice
wedges,
patterned
ground, pingos
and solifluction
lobes.
Exploitation
and
development
in tundra areas
and the
Southern
Ocean.
Traditional
economies of
an indigenous
population and
recent
changes/
adaptations.
Early resource
exploitation by
newcomers –
whaling and/or
sealing. More
recent
development –
oil in Alaska,
fishing,
tourism. The
concept of
fragile
environments.
The potential
permafrost.
(4). 02 (d)
Describe the
patterned
ground
shown in
Figure 2 and
explain its
formation.
(6)
There are
many
pressures on
tundra
regions in the
northern
hemisphere
caused by the
desire of
people to
develop the
regions.
Describe
these
pressures
and discuss
whether these
regions could
be developed
in a
sustainable
way. (15)
2 (d) To what
extent do you
agree that
development
in tundra
areas and/or
the Southern
Ocean has
become more
sustainable?
(15)
2 (c) Using
Figure 4 and
your own
knowledge,
explain why
many cold
environments
are fragile
and how they
can be cared
for to ensure
sustainability.
(15)
around the
glacier in
Figure 2. (5)
01 (a) (ii)
Study
Figure 1
which
shows the
predicted
return
period of
flood
events for
the River
Ouse at
York.
Summarise
the
information
shown in
Figure 1. 3
2 (c) To
what extent
is there
conflict
between
development
and
sustainability
in tundra
areas? (15)
2 (d) To what
extent are
more recent
developments
in cold
environments
(such as oil,
fishing and
tourism)
sustainable?
(15)
for sustainable
development.
The future of
Antarctica – to
consider the
contemporary
issues of
conservation,
protection,
development
and
sustainability
in a wilderness
area.
(c) Why
should
Antarctica be
protected
from
development?
(15)
02 (e)
Discuss how
a balance
may be
found
between
protection
and
development
in
Antarctica.
(15)