Define glacial environment.

Define periglacial environment.

Explain how and why glaciers retreat.

“Periglacial areas offer more opportunities for human activity than glacial areas.” Discuss this statement.

Definitions may include any two of the following, 1 mark each:

• Area covered with snow and ice
• Permanent/long-term basis
• Area where glacial processes are operating
• Different scales include ice sheet, ice caps, glaciers.

Definitions may include any of the following, up to a maximum of 2 marks:

• A region with widespread permafrost (permanently frozen) [1 mark].
• Without ice cover or an area on the edge of areas permanently covered by ice/glaciers [1 mark].
• Distinctive periglacial processes and/or landforms [1 mark].
• May have categories – continuous, discontinuous, sporadic [1 mark].

Glaciers retreat when the ablation of ice [1 mark] exceeds [1 mark] the accumulation of snow and ice [1 mark].

Possible reasons include: climate change, which may be attributed to natural or human causes; volcanic activity; changes in the tilt or orbit of the earth; sunspot activity; cosmic rays and changes in the position of the land masses (tectonics).

Award 1 mark for each point made up to a maximum of 3 marks.

A list of points with no elaboration should only receive 1 mark.

Other valid reasons may be cited.

Periglacial areas, due to the lack of permanent ice, may offer opportunities for the extraction of minerals, and this is arguably being accelerated by climate change. They also offer opportunities for indigenous people (Inuit) who may herd reindeer in response to the seasonal climatic regime of freezing and thawing. Glacial areas also have opportunities. The opportunities may include tourism, outdoor pursuits, areas of outstanding natural beauty which are designated as parks, reserves of water and the generation of HEP.

Some candidates may choose to explore the net opportunities of each environment (looking at how opportunities outweigh challenges). This approach is equally valid.

Challenges may include the possibility of glacial surges, avalanches, landslides, road instability and flooding from glacial melt. While examples are not a specific requirement of the question, those answers that provide supporting examples are likely to access the higher markbands. Responses including explicit discussion of the statement are likely to be credited at bands E/F. It is likely that most responses will conclude by disagreeing with the statement but this is by no means the only possible conclusion. All responses should be judged strictly on their own merits.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.

Most candidates were able to define glacial environments.

Most candidates were able to define periglacial environments. 

Most were able to describe how glaciers retreat but why they retreat was less clearly explained.

Basic knowledge and understanding of the opportunities for human activity in glacial and periglacial areas was often lacking. Some answers saw "glacial" as synonymous with "polar" and completely ignored the numerous opportunities for human activity in the Alpine-type glacial areas of the world.