GLACIATED LANDSCAPES –
MODEL ANSWERS FOR 8- AND
16-MARK QUESTIONS
Manvir Dhillion
,Questions Included in this Pack.
Explain the influence of climate change and geomorphic processes in the formation of eskers (8)
With reference to a case study, explain the influence human activity has on periglacial landscapes (8)
Interglacial periods rather than glacial periods have a more significant influence on the glaciated
landscape ‘. How far do you agree with this view? (16)
Explain how a glacier can be viewed as a system. [8]
Using a case study, assess the relative importance of the different physical factors influencing a
landscape shaped by the action of ice sheets. [16]
Explain the role of flows of energy in the formation of an erratic (8)
Explain the influence of climate change on Kames (8)
Explain how glacier mass balance varies through the year (8)
Glaciated landscape systems change only slowly over long periods of time. Discuss (16)
Assess the relative importance of the physical factors influencing glaciated landscape systems (16)
Assess relative significance and change caused by human activity with periglacial and glaciated
landscape systems (16)
With reference to located examples of distinctive landforms, examine the impact of climate and
weathering on the physical landscape of cold environment (16) - (PDF Document attached)
, Your
understan
ding here
2017 A Level Practice Paper set 1.
seems a bit
‘Explain the influence of climate change and geomorphic processes in the formation of eskers’ (8) off
Eskers are glacio fluvial depositional features found in relict glacial landscapes. Climate change can
influence esker formation. When temperature increase beyond 0c, then this leads to the ablation of
glaciers therefore causing an increase in meltwater. An increase in the volume of meltwater creates
subglacial streams, this causes a reduction in hydrostatic pressure of the water leading to deposition
of sediment. The conditions created by increased meltwater, thus means sediment is subjected to
fluvial erosion such as abrasion, attrition. These erosional processes help cause the sediment to be
rounder/more spherical. Over time as an increase in temperatures continues from climate change,
the glacier will continue to retreat therefore exposing more subglacial streams to the sun. Increased
evaporation reduces meltwater so subglacial stream cannot carry sediment leading to a deposition if
sediment in a sinuous and stratified manner. Climate change then causes an increase in the growing
season so more vegetation grows so the esker is then modified. The esker is then broken down by
weathering processes. 6/8
2017 A Level Practice Paper set 2.
‘With reference to a case study, explain the influence human activity has on periglacial landscapes’
(8)
A periglacial landscape has seasonal temperature variation, permafrost and freeze thaw weathering.
In Alaska, human activity of oil exploitation has influenced the landscape In many ways. Oil was
discovered in Prudhoe Bay in 1968, but to start extracting it – a pipeline was built in 1977. This
means around 2 million barrels a day were produced in 1988 and the Alaska population gained 26
billion in oil revenue in 6 years. The heat released by the buildings caused the thawing of the
permafrost and melting of the active layer. If the building is built directly onto the ground surface;
some of the heat produced by the heating systems may be transferred through the floor to the
ground – melting the permafrost. This can result in subsidence where there are cracks in the
foundation. This allows solifluction to take place. Downslope movement of the thawed active layer
results in the formation of solifluction lobes, at the base of the slopes, when the moving material
loses energy on a lower gradient. Furthermore, In Alaska, to transport the oil, there has been the
construction of the Dalton Highway. The road is dark leading to a reduced solar radiation – causing a
further positive feedback loop of permafrost melting.
8/8 Detailed explanation and very thorough
‘Interglacial periods rather than glacial periods have a more significant influence on the glaciated
landscape ‘. How far do you agree with this view? (16)
There is one major issue with this essay - there is absolutely no case study discussed in it. You
mention you will talk about the Lake District but then there is no mention of it. This hinders the mark
massively as you can't get out of level 1 without having place specific detail.
You have one bit of good analysis in the conclusion, but that other bit of analysis about Antarctica
should be in a paragraph prior to the conclusion.
AO1 – 2/8
AO2 – 3/8
5/16
MODEL ANSWERS FOR 8- AND
16-MARK QUESTIONS
Manvir Dhillion
,Questions Included in this Pack.
Explain the influence of climate change and geomorphic processes in the formation of eskers (8)
With reference to a case study, explain the influence human activity has on periglacial landscapes (8)
Interglacial periods rather than glacial periods have a more significant influence on the glaciated
landscape ‘. How far do you agree with this view? (16)
Explain how a glacier can be viewed as a system. [8]
Using a case study, assess the relative importance of the different physical factors influencing a
landscape shaped by the action of ice sheets. [16]
Explain the role of flows of energy in the formation of an erratic (8)
Explain the influence of climate change on Kames (8)
Explain how glacier mass balance varies through the year (8)
Glaciated landscape systems change only slowly over long periods of time. Discuss (16)
Assess the relative importance of the physical factors influencing glaciated landscape systems (16)
Assess relative significance and change caused by human activity with periglacial and glaciated
landscape systems (16)
With reference to located examples of distinctive landforms, examine the impact of climate and
weathering on the physical landscape of cold environment (16) - (PDF Document attached)
, Your
understan
ding here
2017 A Level Practice Paper set 1.
seems a bit
‘Explain the influence of climate change and geomorphic processes in the formation of eskers’ (8) off
Eskers are glacio fluvial depositional features found in relict glacial landscapes. Climate change can
influence esker formation. When temperature increase beyond 0c, then this leads to the ablation of
glaciers therefore causing an increase in meltwater. An increase in the volume of meltwater creates
subglacial streams, this causes a reduction in hydrostatic pressure of the water leading to deposition
of sediment. The conditions created by increased meltwater, thus means sediment is subjected to
fluvial erosion such as abrasion, attrition. These erosional processes help cause the sediment to be
rounder/more spherical. Over time as an increase in temperatures continues from climate change,
the glacier will continue to retreat therefore exposing more subglacial streams to the sun. Increased
evaporation reduces meltwater so subglacial stream cannot carry sediment leading to a deposition if
sediment in a sinuous and stratified manner. Climate change then causes an increase in the growing
season so more vegetation grows so the esker is then modified. The esker is then broken down by
weathering processes. 6/8
2017 A Level Practice Paper set 2.
‘With reference to a case study, explain the influence human activity has on periglacial landscapes’
(8)
A periglacial landscape has seasonal temperature variation, permafrost and freeze thaw weathering.
In Alaska, human activity of oil exploitation has influenced the landscape In many ways. Oil was
discovered in Prudhoe Bay in 1968, but to start extracting it – a pipeline was built in 1977. This
means around 2 million barrels a day were produced in 1988 and the Alaska population gained 26
billion in oil revenue in 6 years. The heat released by the buildings caused the thawing of the
permafrost and melting of the active layer. If the building is built directly onto the ground surface;
some of the heat produced by the heating systems may be transferred through the floor to the
ground – melting the permafrost. This can result in subsidence where there are cracks in the
foundation. This allows solifluction to take place. Downslope movement of the thawed active layer
results in the formation of solifluction lobes, at the base of the slopes, when the moving material
loses energy on a lower gradient. Furthermore, In Alaska, to transport the oil, there has been the
construction of the Dalton Highway. The road is dark leading to a reduced solar radiation – causing a
further positive feedback loop of permafrost melting.
8/8 Detailed explanation and very thorough
‘Interglacial periods rather than glacial periods have a more significant influence on the glaciated
landscape ‘. How far do you agree with this view? (16)
There is one major issue with this essay - there is absolutely no case study discussed in it. You
mention you will talk about the Lake District but then there is no mention of it. This hinders the mark
massively as you can't get out of level 1 without having place specific detail.
You have one bit of good analysis in the conclusion, but that other bit of analysis about Antarctica
should be in a paragraph prior to the conclusion.
AO1 – 2/8
AO2 – 3/8
5/16
