Which process initiates cirque formation in mountainous terrain after prolonged snowfall?

💡 Explanation

When prolonged snowfall accumulates, glacial plucking occurs because freeze-thaw cycles weaken the bedrock, and the expanding ice fractures and removes rock fragments, forming a cirque. Therefore, glacial plucking initiates cirque formation, rather than weathering, abrasion, or uplift, which contribute differently to erosion.

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