Outline processes by which glaciers erode the landscape. - AQA - A-Level Geography - Question 4 - 2021 - Paper 1

Abrasion occurs when ice and rock debris scrape and scour the underlying surface beneath the glacier. As the glacier moves, it carries debris that can scratch and erode the bedrock, creating striations in the rock. This process not only helps in the erosion of the landscape but also can lead to the formation of finer particles referred to as rock flour.

Debris transported by the glacier plays a critical role in the erosive processes. The debris carried by glacial ice contributes to the overall scouring and trenching of the landscape as glaciers advance or retreat. The interaction between the glacier and the landscape is vital in reshaping geographical features.

Weathering processes, although indirect, also contribute to glacial erosion. They fragment the rock, facilitating plucking and abrasion as acting glaciers can more easily erode smaller, loose particles of rock that have been weathered down by environmental factors.