Warm and cold based glaciers: characteristics and development
Glaciers fall into two types based on their temperature at the base. Warm-based glaciers have a melted base and move easily; cold-based glaciers are frozen to the bedrock and barely move.
Real World
The glaciers of the Swiss Alps are warm-based, sliding rapidly over meltwater at their base; by contrast, glaciers in interior Antarctica are cold-based, frozen to bedrock and moving only centimetres per year.
Exam Focus
Distinguish warm- from cold-based glaciers by basal temperature cause, not just speed — marks are awarded for explaining the geothermal and frictional heat mechanism.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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