AL - Topography of Arid Lands

Question 1

Define:

Aeolin Processes?

Answer 1

Wind Processes that change Arid Landscapes

Question 2

Define:

Bajada?

Answer 2

A bunch of overlapping alluvial fans
(when you cannot see the difference between alluvial fans its a bajada)

Question 3

Define:

Playa?

Answer 3

Shallow, Flat, dry-lakebeds
Salina:Heavy concentration of salt in the lake bed
Claypan: Heavy concentration of clay

Question 4

Alluvial Fan?

Answer 4

Channelized water from high elevation goes from channelized to open. It hits surface loses all velocity and thus capacity and deposits all of its sediment (Competence and capacity is reduced)
Flow breaks into distributary channels

Question 5

Define:

Abrasion?

Where?

Answer 5

Doesn’t create new landforms - it takes away from existing ones in a minor way

Occurs mostly within a few feet of the surface

Question 6

Define:

Deflation?

Question 7

Define:

Ventifact?

Answer 7

A rock formed by abrasion
*Usually shown becuase bottom of rock is eroded but top is only slightly eroded

Question 8

Identify:

Blowout?

Answer 8

A depression formed by wind
Erosional Landform

Formed by Deflation

Question 9

Identify:

Mesa & Scarp?

Answer 9

‘Tables & Cliffs’
You will find in four corners
Table top ‘ Most resistant’ material
Mesa = Table Top
Scarp = Vertical Cliffs
Happens through weathering, mass wasting, and fluvial erosion

Question 10

Identify:

Basin & Ranges?

Answer 10

Caused by a series of normal faults that creates alternating mountains and valley

Basins: Flat areas between ranges

Upthrown Blocks: Ranges
Downthrown Blocks: Basins

Question 11

Identify:

Piedmont Zone?

Answer 11

Transition zone between steep slopes and flat basin floor