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geomorph midterm
earth's changing surface
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| geomorphology | the investigation of landforms, processes, and implications for people and the environment |
| geosciences foundation | -interlinked with colonization and oppressive systems -validated intense racism |
| landscape evolution | -climate -biology -tectonics -geology -topography |
| uniformitarianism | -geologic processes that occurred in the past can be explained by current geologic processes -present = key to the past -processes that have shaped the Earth in the past are essentially the same as those operating today -day to day |
| catastrophism | -geologic processes occur suddenly -episodic |
| geographic cycle / cycle of erosion | -evolution of landforms stating a progressive cycle of erosion, stages are sequential and non-reversible and is driven by climate -young ->mature -> old -> peneplain |
| general systems theory | -how different parts of a system interact and influence each other -A system as a set of objects which are related to one another and operate together as a complex entity -analysis focuses on the relationships between objects or characteristics. |
| morphological system | -relationships btwn elements & attributes in vague sense, only on measured features/correlations -understand form/morphology of a feature as system based on connections btwn elements -don't understand exactly how processes work to transfer energy/matter |
| cascading system | -flow of energy/matter from one element to another and understand processes causing mvmt -don't fully understand quantitative relationships that exist between elements related to the transfer of energy and/or matter. |
| process-response system | -integrates characteristics of morphological & cascading systems -model the processes involved in the mvmt, storage, & transformation of energy / matter btwn system elements -understand the form of system in terms of measured features and correlations |
| control system | -a system that can be intelligently manipulated by the action of humans |
| earth as a system | -endogenic and and exogenic processes -different sources of energy --solar radiation --rotational energy of solar system --gravitational attraction --plate movement --geothermal heat flow |
| exogenic processes | -on earth's surface -weathering, erosion, transportation, deposition -denudation |
| endogenic processes | -internal -plate tectonics and structural processes -constructional |
| 5 principles of process geomorphology | -equilibrium -energy, force, resistance -thresholds -feedback -time |
| equilibrium | -balance between landforms (uplift) and processes (erosion) -equilibrium types --static --steady state -dynamic --dynamic metastable |
| energy, force, resistance | -energy: potential and kinetic -force resistance --difference in type of matter --more resistance needs more force --never static --cold enviro hardens soft soil, breaks up rock |
| thresholds | -forces/stresses <= strength of resisting framework -> system unchanged -forces/stresses > strength of resisting framework -> system in disequilibrium --system respond by adjusting to imbalance (erosion, transport, deposition) |
| feedback | -processes linked so that they can affect each other - negative feedback reduce external change to system -- B -> reduces A -positive feedback -- B-> amplifies A |
| time | -key to study -many scales -low/medium intensity events much more frequent |
| geological cycle | -includes hydrological, rock, and tectonic cycle -multiple time scales |
| geological processes | -igneous -eperiogenesis -orogenesis |
| igneous process | -movement of molten rock |
| eperiogenesis process | -broad vertical uplift |
| orogenesis process | -formation of mountain belts |
| igneous rocks | -solidify and crystallize from magma cooling -plutonic/intrusive -volcanic/extrusive |
| sedimentary rocks | -formed thru deposition, compaction, sedimentation, -softer, show earth's history -compaction & concentration --detrial(clastic) -> sandstone/shale --chem/biochem/organic -> coal/limestone -least resistant rock |
| metamorphic rocks | -igneous/sedimentary -> phys/chem changes -more compact/more resistant -foliated/banded -> gneiss, slate -non-foliated -> marble, anthracite |
| rock cycle | -how types of rock are created and turn into each other |
| earth's structure | -inner core: solid -outer core: molten, flow determines magnetic -mantle: stiff, 84% of earth's volume -crust: varies over planet, continental thicker -lithosphere: rigid -> bend or break -asthenosphere: plastic -> slow flow |
| isostasy | -continent elevation & ocean floor depth as determined by vertical movement of crust -bounce back of crust -state of gravitational equilibrium btwn crust & mantle -> crust rests on mantle at elevation depending on thickness & density |
| glacial isostasy | -glacial retreat -> crust bounces back and rises up |
| continental drift | -continental puzzle -convection currents -> mvmt -shown thru --ruggedness/youth of ocean floor --shown of repeated reversals of magnetic field --seafloor spread & ocean crust recycling --documented of concentration of earthquake & volcanic patterns |
| seafloor spreading | -ocean rides where lava emerges and forms new crust -also maps to magnetic polarity reversals |
| crustal movements | -endogenic processes result in gradual uplift and new landforms -driven by convection currents in mantle - |
| divergent boundaries | -plate pulls apart -creates rifts, trenches, seafloor spreading |
| convergent boundaries | -plates come together -creates subduction zones, mountain ranges, island arch |
| transform boundaries | -plates slide past each other |
| tectonic landforms | -mountains, trenches, rifts |
| folding | -bending of 1+ layers of rock b/c of compression and stress -w/ time erosion can produce plunging anticline -syncline, anticline, fold, overfold |
| faulting | -fractures/displacement of rock due to stress exceeding rock threshold -form planes of weakness -> exploited by other processes -normal fault (divergent) -reverse fault (convergent) -strike/slip fault (transform) -creates fault planes, scarps |
| plate boundaries | -map on to tectonic action |
| earthquakes | -slow, not smooth mvmt -sharp release of energy occurring at moment of fracture -sides of faults move to new places -produces seismic waves |
| volcanic landforms | -spines -dikes -lava plateaus -lava domes -craters |
| volcanoes | effusive v. explosive |
| composite volcano | -somewhat conical, cluster of vents -multiple layers -violence/dangerous explosions -some of worlds largest mountains |
| cindercone volcano | -1 main vent -1 crater -much smaller than composite |
| shield volcano | -wide, tall, gently sloping -effusive eruptions -central vents |
| volcanic material | -ash, cinder, pumice |
| spine and dike forms | -spine: vertical lava from vent -dike: tabular/sheet igneous intrusion, different age |
| climate geomorphology | -context to understand weathering, erosion, mass wasting, by linking geomorph processes to climate zones -climate controls weathering rates, erosion, and sediment transport -key climatic factors: --temperature --precipitation --vegetation cover |
| role of solar radiation | -variations in composition and intensity -> changes in global and region al climate -different latitudinal zones |
| morphogenetic regions | -landforms differ significantly in different climate regions -spatial variation in landforms by region -9 general regions --mostly by mean temp and mean precipitation |
| weathering | -process that wear/break down rocks --breaks it -physical and chemical |
| physical weathering | -breakdown of mineral/rock -eventually into minerals/crystals (ideal) |
| chemical weathering | -breakdown of material by chemical reactions -water as key agent -rain slightly acidic, impact soil |
| hjolstrom curve | -size of material v. strength of river flow -in what conditions is material is eroded, transported, deposited |
| regolith | -rock blanket -material covering surface -above bedrock - |
| exfoliation/unloading | -rock sheds outer layer -rock sheets break off exposed bedrock -thermal expansion & contraction weakens rock -arid regions, big temp changes |
| frost action/insolation | -water seeps into cracks, expands @ night, further weakens rock -freeze thaw cycle (expand/contract) -water freezes: expands 9-10% -cold regions: rocks and potholes |
| abrasion | -every zone - water, wind, wave, glaciers -cause mvmt and grinding where rocks grind against other rocks/particles -angular -> rounded -sorts grain sizes by distance from origin (coarse->fine) - |
| root wedging | -plant roots crack rock -seed collect in cracks, grow, roots break rock -common in tropics/subtropical - humid |
| oxidation | -formation of rust -exposed iron reacts with water -breakdown of rock by oxygen/water give iron rick rocks rusty color |
| carbonation | -acidic rain/water dissolve limestone/similar types -forms caves -water as mildly acidic and reacts as such -sinkholes -> rock below weathered/weakened -> surface collapse in |
| factors in chemical weathering | -climate: mostly warm/humid areas -composition: solubility of minerals varies -mineral size/shape -material hardness/strength: Mohs hardness scale - dif resistance -surface area: more exposed/broken by phys = more chem weathering, joints exacerbated |
| erosion | -factors that control movement of material -material picked up & moved by ice/water/wind/gravity --takes it -sets stage for transportation |
| hillslopes | -most of land surface -form shows --underlying materials --which enviro forcings matter --history of past conditions/events -dominates channel sediment supply -range of sediment production rates -pose sig hazards -sensitive to human disturbance |
| factors in material movement | -shear stress: amount of force applied to a component -shear strength: material’s ability to withstand stress/resistance of the material -slope stability: relationship btwn forces disturbing the material and resistance of the existing framework |
| properties and behavior of slope materials | -rock: hard, coherent material made of indv. particles/ crystals, not sig weakened when saturated w/ water -soil/regolith: weak, unconsolidated deposit, weakened when saturated w/ water -response of slope materials to stress det. by shear strength |
| flow *mass mvmt | - shear occurs throughout the moving mass -discrete boundaries -no welldefined shear plane -material is disrupted throughout the flow -landslides, avalanches, debris flow, earth flows, mudflows -wet & medium speed |
| slide/slump *mass mvmt | -drier, fast -failure occurs along a well-defined shear plane -blocks of material within the failure may move as coherent units, preserving relict structures. |
| creep | -various moisture & speed -slow, plastic deformation of soil/rock -in response to overburden stress |
| heave *mass mvmt | -material experiences expansion & contraction -expansion more normal to ground, contraction more vertical -soil, talus, and frost creep |
| subsidence | -either instantaneous collapse of material into a cave or other cavity (cavity collapse) -or progressive lowering of the ground surface (settlement) |
| fall | -rapid! - rock or soil moves downward through the air -falls occur along very steep faces --e.g. cliffs or eroding stream banks |
| talus/scree deposits | -large rock fragments consisting of unconsolidated material transported and deposited on slopes -gravity is main transport agent |
| collovium deposits | -finer material of unconsolidated material transported and deposited on slopes -gravity is main transport agent |
| deposition | -drops it -no longer enough energy to trasnport material |
| mass movement/mass wasting | - the downslope movement of a mass of surface materials, such as soil, rock, or mud -caused by gravity -angular and unsorted |
| types of energy in earth's system | -solar radiation -rotational energy of solar system -gravitational attraction -geothermal heat flow -plate movements |
| exogenic energy | -drives weathering/erosion systems that wear down earth's surface (planation) |
| endogenic energy | -derived from decay of radioactive materials and residual primordial heat -drives mountain building and plate tectonic uplift |
| force v. resistance | -driving force v. resisting framework -driving force v. material properties -process v. material properties -stress v. strength |
| the anthropocene | -NOT climate change |
| relief | -vertical elevation on surface |
| topography | -big picture mountains and valleys |
| craton | -stable interior of continental plate -bedrock |
| water abrasion | -picks up and knocks particles into each other |
| wind abrasion | -picks up particles and bang them into each other -can transport light sediments over large areas -> dust storms -worse with dought |
| wave abrasion/attrition | -waves smash particles against each other on the shore, breaking particles into even smaller pieces |
| glacial abrasion | -plucking: glacial mvmt exerts pressure undersurface, picks ups sediments -abrasion/polishing: lots of pressure scraps surface and picks up materials |
| rock joints | -cracks in rocks where water or plants can inflitrate |
| role of soil in erosion | -covers most of surface -little soil cover - detachment limited -lots of soil cover - transport limited |
| why rocks weather | -formed underground, often under high temp/pressures -rocks exposed at the surface by erosion are no longer in equilibrium w/ environment … when exposed at the surface, they are exposed to completely different climatic and chemical conditions |
| angle of repose | -the max slope or angle at which loose material (e.g. soil or sand) remain stable |
| water erosion and transport and slopes | -slope material is transported by water, water moves over and within hillslopes -proportion of precipitation that flows > infiltrating depends on intensity & duration of precipitation & properties of the slope surface |
| rainsplash erosion | -direct movement of particles or dislodged by removal of supporting particles -slope gradient & surface characteristics impacts rainsplash erosion |
| slope wash/sheet flow | -Movement of water across a slope surface -not a uniform flow, but often channeled flow |
| rills | -sustained concentrated flows can generate non-permanent microchannels |
| gullies | -enlarged rills and permanent part of a channel network |
| solute transport | -transport of weathered material -> rearrangement & settling of remaining particles |
| igneous intrusion | -magma intrudes into pre-existing rocks and cools in the crust -e.g. dike, sills |
Created by:
sarahm-m
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