Glacial Erosion Shaping the Irish Landscape

Glacial Erosion Shaping the Irish Landscape

By C. Maher

Learning Intention​

​Describe how the processes of glacial erosion have formed unique features on the landscape such as U-shaped valleys, cirques, corries and truncated spur.

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​Plucking

Abrasion

V-Shaped Valley​

​Glaciated Valley (U-Shaped Valley)

Key Words

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Let's test how well you remember features of river erosion...​

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Revision!​

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Multiple Choice

Which is NOT a feature of river erosion?

• Waterfalls

• Interlocking Spurs

• V-shaped Valley

• Delta

Multiple Choice

What feature of river erosion is shown in this picture?

• Waterfall

• V-shaped valley

Open Ended

Briefly describe the formation of a V-shaped valley.

U-shaped valleys are also called glaciated valleys.

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They were originally a v-shaped river valley that became straightened and deepened by a glacier filling it.​

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This is Glendalough, Wicklow.

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U-Shaped Valley

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Plucked rocks became embedded in the base of the glacier. As the glacier moved, the rocks abraded (scraped against) the rock surface they passed over.

Abrasion​

The base of the glacier melted into the underlying rocks due to the heat caused by friction. Then the meltwater froze again, and as the glacier moved on it plucked chunks of rock out of the ground.

Plucking

Formation of a U-Shaped Valley

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​Draw and label the U-shaped (or glaciated) valley ​as shown above in your copies!

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Your turn!