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Cirques (alternatively known as Corries in Scotland and Cwm's in Wales) are masses of ice that carve out an arm-chair shaped hollow with a steep back wall and a steep headwall. Snow fall collects in the already evident (if not small) hollow on the mountain side. They are prevalent on north facing slopes as they recieve less sunlight so accumulation exceeds ablation. A series of processes collectively known as Nivation (processes that occur under and near a snow patch) including freeze-thaw, solifluction, erosion, weathering etc. These processes cause the underlying rocks to disintegrate, and the hollow deepens. As the snow patch grows, its layers become increasingly compressed to form firn and eventually ice. Plucking steepens and scours the sidewalls and headwall, as the material is removed from the valley sides. A rotational movement of ice flow enables abrasion to deepen the hollow further. Cirques often form valley glaciers as they fill up the hollow and spill over the rock lip.

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Lincoln Wolf

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2y ago
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6mo ago

A cirque is formed by glacial erosion, where a glacier scoops out a bowl-shaped depression in the mountain due to its movement and abrasive action on the rock below. The steep walls of a cirque are typically rounded and smooth, with a concave shape. As the glacier moves further down the mountain, the cirque may deepen and widen.

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12y ago

Cirques (alternatively known as Corries in Scotland and Cwm's in Wales) are masses of ice that carve out an arm-chair shaped hollow with a steep back wall and a steep headwall. Snow fall collects in the already evident (if not small) hollow on the mountain side. They are prevalent on north facing slopes as they recieve less sunlight so accumulation exceeds ablation. A series of processes collectively known as Nivation (processes that occur under and near a snow patch) including freeze-thaw, solifluction, erosion, weathering etc. These processes cause the underlying rocks to disintegrate, and the hollow deepens. As the snow patch grows, its layers become increasingly compressed to form firn and eventually ice. Plucking steepens and scours the sidewalls and headwall, as the material is removed from the valley sides. A rotational movement of ice flow enables abrasion to deepen the hollow further. Cirques often form valley glaciers as they fill up the hollow and spill over the rock lip.

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Q: How is a cirque formed?
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Related questions

A bowl-shaped basin formed near the beginning of a glacier is called a?

cirque


Is a cirque the result of erosion or deposition?

A cirque, also known as a Cwm or Corrie, is a feature of glacial erosion, formed in a mountainside.


What features is formed by glaciers and is shaped like an armchair?

A cirque is a glacial landform that resembles an armchair. It is a bowl-shaped hollow with steep sides formed at the head of a glacier where ice erosion and plucking have occurred.


What is a glacier formed lake?

A tarn (or corrie loch) is a mountain lake or pool, formed in a cirque excavated by a glacier.


What is a cirque?

A cirque is a bowl-shaped, amphitheater-like hollow area at the head of a glacial valley formed by the erosion of a glacier. Cirques often contain a small lake known as a tarn.


What is a U-shaped valley formed by glaciers called?

because a space man crashed into it:]


What is the difference between a lake and a tarn?

A ' Tarn' is a mountain lake or pool formed in a cirque excavated by a glacier.


Does wind erosion cause a cirque?

No, wind erosion does not cause a cirque. A cirque is a bowl-shaped depression formed by glacial erosion, typically found on the side of a mountain. Wind erosion is the process by which wind moves and erodes materials like sand or soil over time.


Is a cirque glacier formed by eroson?

shong now washup wannyy boii. shaboigin bruh. u stink bomb


A deep and steep bowl like depression produced by glacier erosion?

A deep and steep bowl-like depression formed by glacier erosion is called a cirque. Cirques are typically found at the head of a glacier and are characterized by steep, bowl-shaped walls.


How do you say circus in french?

Cirque as in Cirque de solei


How is a glacial crique formed?

A glacial cirque is formed when a glacier erodes the headwall of a valley through processes like plucking and abrasion. As the glacier moves downhill, it creates a bowl-shaped depression with steep walls. After the glacier retreats, the cirque may fill with water, forming a tarn or glacial lake.