Landform Identification: Subglacial Meltwater Features
Subglacial meltwater refers to water originating from the melting of ice beneath a glacier or ice sheet. This water can carve channels and transport sediment within, under, or at the margins of the ice.
Esker Formation Explained
The landform specifically created by subglacial meltwater streams is known as an esker. These streams flow within tunnels or crevasses under the ice, carrying sand, gravel, and other debris. As the glacier melts and retreats, these meltwater streams deposit their load, forming long, winding ridges of sorted sediment called eskers.
Distinguishing Glacial Landforms
Let's look at why the other options are less accurate:
- Moraines: These are landforms composed of till (unsorted glacial debris) deposited directly by the movement or melting of glacial ice, not specifically by meltwater streams.
- Cirques: These are bowl-shaped depressions formed by glacial erosion at the head of a glacier, not deposition by meltwater.
- Kames: While also formed from glacial meltwater deposits, kames are typically irregular mounds or hills rather than the distinct linear ridges characteristic of eskers formed by subglacial stream channels.
Therefore, eskers are the most accurate answer for a landform created by subglacial meltwater streams.
Important Questions from Geomorphology
Which one of the following is not an igneous rock?
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Hypocenter is the point on the surface of the Earth, nearest to the focus.
2. Velocity of earthquake waves is higher in denser materials.
3. P waves move faster and are the first to arrive at the surface of the Earth.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Which one of the following is the lowermost/innermost intrusive igneous rock?
The formation of ‘tors’ on small rocky hills is associated with which among the following?
Which one of the following statements about metamorphic rocks is not correct?
