Cirques or Corries, as they are also called, are usually formed by glacial erosion. ... As cirques are generally formed above the snowline, studying cirques provides information on past glaciation and climate change, and is, therefore, important to understand the geological behaviors on the Earth.

What are cirques in geology?

Cirques are bowl-shaped, amphitheater-like depressions that glaciers carve into mountains and valley sidewalls at high elevations. Often, the glaciers flow up and over the lip of the cirque as gravity drives them downslope.

Why are cirques formed?

A horn results when glaciers erode three or more arêtes, usually forming a sharp-edged peak. Cirques are concave, circular basins carved by the base of a glacier as it erodes the landscape.