Which geological process occurs primarily due to ice acting as a sculpting force?

Which geological process occurs primarily due to ice acting as a sculpting force?

• A. Erosion
• B. Weathering
• C. Transportation
• D. Deposition

Answer: (A)

The geological process that occurs primarily due to ice acting as a sculpting force is erosion. When glaciers move, they can carve and shape the landscape through a process known as glacial erosion. This involves the abrasive action of the ice as it contains rocks and sediment that scratch and grind away at the underlying bedrock, creating distinctive landforms such as U-shaped valleys and fjords. Additionally, the melting of glaciers can lead to the transport of materials, but the initial shaping and alteration of the landscape is primarily through erosion. In contrast, weathering refers to the breakdown of rocks at the Earth's surface by various physical, chemical, or biological processes, but it does not involve the active movement or sculpting of the landscape that glaciers do. Transportation involves the movement of eroded materials, while deposition is the process of laying down or settling those materials in a different location. Both transportation and deposition are subsequent processes that follow erosion but do not directly relate to the sculpting force of ice itself. Thus, erosion is the correct answer as it directly describes the transformative power of ice in shaping the Earth's surface.

The geological process that occurs primarily due to ice acting as a sculpting force is erosion. When glaciers move, they can carve and shape the landscape through a process known as glacial erosion. This involves the abrasive action of the ice as it contains rocks and sediment that scratch and grind away at the underlying bedrock, creating distinctive landforms such as U-shaped valleys and fjords. Additionally, the melting of glaciers can lead to the transport of materials, but the initial shaping and alteration of the landscape is primarily through erosion.

In contrast, weathering refers to the breakdown of rocks at the Earth's surface by various physical, chemical, or biological processes, but it does not involve the active movement or sculpting of the landscape that glaciers do. Transportation involves the movement of eroded materials, while deposition is the process of laying down or settling those materials in a different location. Both transportation and deposition are subsequent processes that follow erosion but do not directly relate to the sculpting force of ice itself. Thus, erosion is the correct answer as it directly describes the transformative power of ice in shaping the Earth's surface.