Lesson 3.1.4.1

3.1.4.1 Glaciers as natural systems Quiz: AQA Geography, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.1.4.1, Glaciers as natural systems: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Geography (7037), Unit 1: Physical geography, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What term describes the area of a glacier where annual snow gain exceeds ice loss?

    • Terminus
    • Accumulation zone
    • Equilibrium line
    • Ablation zone

  2. Which term describes the total loss of ice from a glacier through processes like melting and calving?

    • Compaction
    • Ablation
    • Accumulation
    • Nivation

  3. What boundary on a glacier marks where annual accumulation exactly equals annual ablation?

    • Trimline
    • Equilibrium line
    • Terminus
    • Firn line

  4. A glacier gains 2.4 m and loses 1.6 m of water equivalent annually. What is its mass balance?

    • +1.5 m
    • +0.8 m
    • -0.8 m
    • +4.0 m

  5. What term describes the balance between total inputs and outputs of ice in a glacier over one year?

    • Dynamic equilibrium
    • Energy balance
    • Glacial budget
    • Basal sliding

  6. Which type of glacier is frozen to its bedrock and moves mainly by internal deformation?

    • Warm-based glacier
    • Cold-based glacier
    • Polythermal glacier
    • Temperate glacier

  7. Which type of glacier has basal ice at the pressure melting point, allowing meltwater to facilitate movement?

    • Polar glacier
    • Warm-based glacier
    • Cold-based glacier
    • Subglacial glacier

  8. Which factor has the strongest influence on the altitude of a glacier's equilibrium line?

    • Bedrock geology
    • Local climate
    • Ice thickness
    • Mantle convection

  9. What primary driver causes historical global patterns of glacial advance and retreat over long timescales?

    • Sea level changes
    • Climate change
    • Tectonic uplift
    • Continental drift

  10. In a glacial system, accumulation represents an input, while ablation represents which component?

    • An output
    • A transfer
    • A feedback
    • A store

  11. If a glacier snout retreats while accumulation remains constant, what has happened to ablation?

    • Decreased
    • Remained constant
    • Increased
    • Ceased completely

  12. Which system store increases when accumulation consistently exceeds ablation in a glacier system?

    • Moraine debris
    • Meltwater runoff
    • Ice mass
    • Solar radiation

  13. Because glaciers continuously exchange energy and mass with their surrounding environment, they are classed as what?

    • Isolated systems
    • Static systems
    • Closed systems
    • Open systems

  14. What type of feedback loop occurs when melting ice exposes darker ground, accelerating further melting?

    • Positive feedback
    • Dynamic balance
    • Negative feedback
    • System equilibrium

  15. What process involves ice melting under high pressure against an obstacle and refreezing behind it?

    • Internal deformation
    • Nivation
    • Extensional flow
    • Regelation

  16. Which glacier zone lies below the equilibrium line, where net ice loss occurs?

    • Dynamic zone
    • Accumulation zone
    • Ablation zone
    • Equilibrium zone

  17. A glacier has 12 km² accumulation area and 8 km² ablation area. What percentage is accumulation?

    • 40 per cent
    • 67 per cent
    • 75 per cent
    • 60 per cent

  18. What does an increase in a glacier's equilibrium line altitude indicate?

    • Negative mass balance
    • Increasing glacier snowfall
    • Positive mass balance
    • Dynamic equilibrium

  19. What term describes partially compacted snow that has survived at least one summer melt season?

    • Moraine
    • Glacial till
    • Firn
    • Serac

  20. Which type of ice movement occurs down steep slopes, opening surface crevasses?

    • Extensional flow
    • Compressional flow
    • Basal sliding
    • Rotational slip

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