Question

What processes lead to glacial erosion? Describe them.

Answer 1

There are two main processes of glacial erosion. The first that we will talk about is plucking, which is defined as the erosion and transport of large chunks of rocks. As a glacier moves over the landscape, water melts below the glacier and seeps into cracks within the underlying bedrock.

Answer 2

There are three main processes that causes glacial erosion

a) Plucking

b) Abrasion

c) freeze and thaw

Step-by-step explanation:

There are three main processes that causes glacial erosion

a) Plucking - In this the rocks at the base of glacier gets frozen and thus they stick to the ground. Now when the glacier starts moving, it plucks the rock from the ground. This process of eroding the frozen rocks at the base by the glaciers is called plucking.

b) Abrasion – Abrasion occurs when the plucked rocked by the glacier rub against the ground/bedrock or side of the glaciers. This rubbing causes scouring and erosion of the bedrock.

c) Freeze and thaw – the water in the glacier melts during the day time and enters into the cracked rocks. During night time, the temperature drops and the water in the crack freezes and expands. This causes further widening of the cracks. This continues until the crack enlarges to an extent where it breaks the rock into smaller pieces.