Hi Apple!
Let's look at Question 6: "Plucking is an important geomorphic process. Describe how it operates."
Plucking is a type of glacial erosion that happens when a glacier removes pieces of rock from the ground beneath it.
As a glacier moves over uneven bedrock, pressure changes and meltwater can enter cracks and joints in the rock. If that water freezes, it expands and can help widen the cracks, making the rock easier to break apart.
Another important part of plucking happens when meltwater beneath the glacier refreezes onto the bedrock. As the glacier continues moving, the ice can pull loosened pieces of rock away from the surface and carry them along.
Plucking is especially effective where the bedrock is already fractured and where conditions allow ice to remain attached to the rock. It often occurs on the downstream side of bedrock obstacles, where pressure changes can encourage ice-bed separation and refreezing.
Over time, this process helps create rough, jagged landscapes and contributes to the formation of features such as roche moutonnées.
A useful way to remember the process is:
Water enters cracks → Rock becomes weakened → Ice grips the rock → Moving glacier pulls pieces away.
For an A-level answer, make sure you explain not just what plucking is, but how glacier movement, meltwater, and the structure of the bedrock work together to make it happen.
Hope this helps, and good luck with your geography studies!
