‘Interglacial periods rather than glacial periods have a more significant influence on glaciated

landscapes’ How far do you agree with this statement?

Glaciated landscapes are landscapes that are formed by the erosion and movement of glaciers. They
are formed during glacial, interglacial and relict periods and some examples are corries, hanging
valleys, Roche moutonnee and many more. Glacial periods are more influential than interglacial
periods though due to their increase in mass balance of the glaciers causing more erosion of the
land.

Glaciated periods are much colder periods when the temperature is extremely low causing the
glaciers to accumulate and grow bigger. This increase in the glaciers mass balance will cause the
glacier to get heavier and increase the rate of erosion on the land around it. For example in the Nant
Ffrancon valley the accumulation of the glacier in the last glacial maximum has caused over-
deepening beneath the glacier forming the corrie known as Cwm Idwal. Also, the increase in mass
balance of the glacier will cause there to be more abrasion, plucking and frost shatter which creates
these corries, troughs and Roche moutonnées. Glaciers flow through river valley and widen and
deepen the valley through erosion such as plucking and abrasion much stronger than water would
due to their high mass balance which will completely change the shape of the landscape from a v-
shaped valley which a river formed, to now a much deeper and wider U- shaped valley. This can be
seen as the Nant Ffrancon valley used to be a V- shaped valley but over many years it has shaped
into a deep and wide U- shaped valley which shows the impact of glacial periods compared to
interglacial periods. Drumlins are also a glacial landform that are formed from lodgement till which
has been deposited by moving glaciers which are thick pushing the sediment into the ground
beneath it. Also, moraines