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Intro to Physical Environment > Exam 3 > Flashcards

Exam 3 Flashcards

1
Q

Divergent Plate Boundary

A

Two plates, moving away from each other
Mostly located along the ridge systems in deep ocean basins
Represent sides of seafloor spreading

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2
Q

Convergent Plate Boundary

A

Two plates moving toward each other,
Associated w Volcanic Activity
Subduction

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3
Q

Subduction

A

One plate slides under the other
When only oceanic crust is involved, an island chain is formed (Ex. Aleutian Islands)
When only continental crust is involved, mountains are formed

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4
Q

Transform Plate Boundary

A

Two plates slip horizontally past one another
Seismic activity occurs, but little volcanic activity
Example: San Andreas fault system in California

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5
Q

Folding

A

Compression forces exerting pressure wherein the rock structure is bent and/or deformed
Is the result of a crustal movement (plate tectonics)

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6
Q

Anticline Folding

A

Upfolded rock layer

Ridge , arch

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7
Q

Syncline Folding

A

A down-folded rock layer

Valley or basin

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8
Q

Faulting

A

Rock layers are sustained and eventually fracture/break

One side of the rock layer is displaced relative to the other

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9
Q

Normal Fault

A

Vertical movement along an inclined plain
Overlying block is the hanging wall
Foundation block is the “Footwall”

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10
Q

Reverse Fault

A

Associated w/ converging plates

Produces hanging wall that moves upward

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11
Q

Thrust Fault

A

A type of reverse fault that is Much more significant vertical movement, More energy behind it, and a Higher risk for seismic activity

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12
Q

Strike Slip Fault

A

Transcurrent fault
Lateral movement along the transform boundary
San Andreas encompasses strike slip faults

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13
Q

Horst Landforms

A

Land between faults that is higher than the surrounding land. For example, the Sinai Peninsula.

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14
Q

Graben Landforms

A

Land between the faults that is lower than the surrounding land. For example, Death Valley.

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15
Q

Pacific Ring of Fire

A

Plate collisions in the PACIFIC RIM (which is comprised of North America and Asia) are responsible for a MAJORITY of seismic and volcanic activity on Earth

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16
Q

Cinder Cone Volcano

A

Cone shaped hill
Smallest type (these are not the famous giants of history)
Mostly pyroclastics (cinder, rock fragments, ash)
Not a lot of lava

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17
Q

Shield Volcano

A

Very gentle lava flows, Not a lot of ash, Very common in Hawaii, Lava flows form different kinds of cool rocks, Eruptions are not usually explosive unless water gets in vent, A lot of magma, Few pyroclastics

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18
Q

Composite Cone Volcano

A

Stratovolcano, Largest percentage of volcanoes fall into this category, Created by Subduction, High amounts of lava, ash, pyroclastics, Your classic scary apocalyptic volcano, “Giants of history”

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19
Q

Plug Lava Dome

A

Steep sides, Vent is repeatedly jammed, Immense pressure is created due to the blockage, Produce very cataclysmic eruptions, Kind of a subcategory of composite but differentiated by its steep sides and jammed vents!!!

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20
Q

Uniformitarianism

A

Earth has come to its present form through physical processes that have been constant and active in the environment throughout all of geologic time

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21
Q

Catastrophism

A

Earth has come to its present form as a result of large, sudden events

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22
Q

Plate Tectonics

A

Lithosphere is made up of a series of great and lesser plates that float over the asthenosphere, Continental drift is a consistent consequence of plate tectonics, Boundaries produce a majority of mountain ranges, volcanic eruptions, earthquake epicenters

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23
Q

Weathering

A

Weathering encompasses several processes involved in the disintegration and/or decomposition of rock material

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24
Q

Denudation (Weathering)

A

The process of reduction or rearrangement of landforms

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25
Q

Aggradation

A

Process of building up by accumulation of depositional material

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26
Q

Erosion

A

Wearing away or removal of a rock by an agent (e.g, running water, wind, ice)

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27
Q

Transport

A

Physical movement of rock debris

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28
Q

Deposition

A

The dropping/depositing of rock debris in a new location

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29
Q

Physical Weathering

A

Rock is broken and disintegrated w/o any chemical alteration or change

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30
Q

Frost Wedging (Physical Weathering)

A

Freeze-thaw action, Liquid water gets into cracks of rock and expands as it freezes, Rock cracks/fractures and breaks into pieces

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31
Q

Salt Crystal Growth (Physical Weathering)

A

Arid, semi-arid climates, Ground water is drawn to the surface of rock and evaporates , Mineral crystals that develop from dissolved minerals– Salt Crystals, Crystals grow into larger collections, Rock is cracked/fractured as crystals continue to grow

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32
Q

Chemical Weathering

A

Involves the actual decomposition and decay of the constituent minerals in the rock, Due to chemical change in minerals in the presence of water

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33
Q

Hydrolosis (Chemical Weathering)

A

Minerals (silicates, carbonates) chemically combine with water, One fragment of parent molecule combines with hydrogen and another with hydroxyl, Decomposition process: Chemical reactions produce different compounds/minerals
Acid/base salts combine w water
Acid Rain reacts w/ rock-forming minerals– produces clay and salts that are removed in solution

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34
Q

Oxidation

A

Gain of oxygen to a substance (particularly a metallic compound)
Oxides are physically weaker than original material, more susceptible to weathering
Iron and rusting
Accelerated by moisture and heat
Occurs above the water table

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35
Q

Reduction

A

Loss of oxygen from a substance (particularly a metallic compound)
Common where rock is totally submerged by still water
Occurs below the water table
Chemical reaction removes the oxygen but mineral may be altered again later if water circulation makes additional oxygen available

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36
Q

Solution

A

Minerals are actually dissolved in water
Minerals have low solubility in pure water. Rain contains carbonic acid limestone/marble
Large feature of glacial weathering. Colder water can hold more dissolved carbon dioxide.

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37
Q

Permanent Stream Flow

A

Lasts all year long

Valley floor is lower than the lowest groundwater level

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38
Q

Intermittent Stream Flow

A

Seasonal stream

Valley floor is lower than the lowest groundwater level for part of the year

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39
Q

Ephemeral Stream Flow

A

Exists only after precipitation falls

No relationship with the groundwater level

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40
Q

Exotic Stream Flow

A

Crosses a desert

Examples: The Nile and Colorado Rivers

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41
Q

Dioric Stream Flow (Pluse 2 Types)

A

Crosses a mountain
Antecedent Dioric
-Stream is there first, mountain arises around it
Superimposed
-Streamflow works away/carves itself into mountain

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42
Q

Denditic Stream Type

A

Root-like shape
Evenly resistant rock
Gentle slopes

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43
Q

Parallel Stream Type

A

Steep slopes

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44
Q

Trellis Stream Type

A

Folded

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45
Q

Rectangular Stream Type

A

Faulted

46
Q

Radial Stream Type

A

Domed surface

47
Q

Centripetal Stream Type

A

Converges at basin

48
Q

Derranged Stream Type

A

No geometric pattern associated

49
Q

Tributary

A

A stream that feeds a larger stream or lake

A supplemental water source

50
Q

How do Stream Orders Work?

A

First Order: No tributaries
Second Order Stream: Receives at least two first order streams
Third Order Stream: Receives at least two second order streams

51
Q

Glacial Geography

A

Glaciers act as an agent of erosion
Glaciers create a U-Shaped valley
Rivers create V Shaped Valley

52
Q

Alpine Glacier

A

Mountain source, Rugged scenery, Jagged rock, Stone and ice, Rockies, Alps, Andes, Himalayas

53
Q

Continental Glacier

A

Ice Sheets, Thick mass of ice covering large portion of continent, Greenland, Antarctica

54
Q

When Ice Carries Debris it…?

A

Deposits the debris somewhere else

55
Q

Glacial Snow at higher elevations is…?

A

White in color

56
Q

Glacial Snow at lower elevations is…?

A

Gray in color due to containing debris

57
Q

Terminus

A

End of glacier.

Gray snow.

58
Q

Crevasses

A

Vertical cracks in glaciers

Result of friction or tension from extension/compression

59
Q

Transverse Crevasse

A

Most common, forms across the glacier

60
Q

Splashing Crevasses

A

Form on the sides of glaciers

61
Q

Longitudinal Crevassses

A

Form parallel to flow where expanding, Snow-covered, Fairly common in Antarctica
Dangerous

62
Q

Lateral Moraines

A

Formed from accumulation of material on either side of the valley
Deposited on top of glacier. Does not experience post-glacial erosion
Freeze-thaw
Usually preserved as ridges along the valley side

63
Q

Medial Moraines

A

Junction of lateral moraines where glaciers meet

Ridge is along center of the valley

64
Q

End Moraines

A

Formed when glacier pauses after reaching equilibrium

Size and shape determined by whether or not glacier is advancing or receding

65
Q

Recessional Moraines

A

Deposits are formed while glacier is stationary during retreat phase, Higher elevations, Terminal, Debris is dropped at glaciers farthest extent, Represents the farthest advance of the glacier, Conveyer belt
Lowest elevation

66
Q

Ground Moraines

A

Till (collection of rock/dirt/mud/debris) spreads across the land surface
Hides the former landscape
Between lateral moraines
Unsorted debris
May be modified into other landforms by overriding ice

67
Q

Drumlin (Glacial landform)

A

Glacial debris that is streamlined/smoothed by the passage of ice
Streamlining reflects the erosional and depositional processes
One end of the hill is steeper than the other, tapers down to ground level
Tear drop shaped
Common in great lakes region
Aligned, parallel, clustered together

68
Q

Alternative Drumlin Form Theory

A

Catastrophic flooding of high pressure water flowing beneath ice sheet

69
Q

Erratic (Glacial Landform)

A

Very large rock boulders carried to its present location by a glacier
Rock type is different than the rock type of the local area
Marks the path of glacial movement
Ice rafting

70
Q

Esker (Glacial Landform)

A

Forming through meltwater deposits flowing beneath the surface of the glacier
Gravel ridge
Parallel to overall ice flow

71
Q

Kame (Glacial Landform)

A

Stagnant ice topography
Deposits from glacial meltwater when glacier is stagnant and not moving
Irregular shape accumulates in depression within the glacier
More sediment deposited on top of other debris

72
Q

What is the difference between a Kame and a Drumlin

A

A kame is deposited by meltwater and a Drumlin is deposited by ice.

73
Q

Kettle (Glacial Landform)

A

Depression resulting from melting of buried ice
“Kame and Kettle Topography”
Can fill with water and become KETTLE LAKES!!

74
Q

When were Ice Sheet Land Forms formed

A

During the last ice age

75
Q

Cirque (Alpine Landform)

A

Hollowed out amphitheater-like
Cliffs shelter it from heat, encouraging accumulation of snow and ice
Frost wedging can affect/increase the size

76
Q

Arete (Alpine Landform)

A

Thin ridge separating two valleys parallel erosion from the two glaciers
Can also form from two cirques eroding headward toward each other

77
Q

Col (Alpine Landform)

A

Two opposing glaciers meeting at Arete

Carves a gap or a pass

78
Q

Horn

A

Pyramidal peak

Created by erosion of multiple glaciers converging on a central point

79
Q

Human Causes of Desertification

A

Firewood Collection
Overgrazing
Intensive Agriculture or Cultivation

80
Q

Erg Desert

A

Classic sea of sand

Not very Common

81
Q

Desert Pavement

A

Rocky and stony landscape

Common

82
Q

Hamad

A

Barren/exposed surface, bedrock

83
Q

West Coast Deserts

A

A rain-shadow forms on the leeward side of a mountain range…the normal rain-shadow grows and turns into a desert.

84
Q

Examples of West Coast Deserts

A

Mojave Desert in North America: 34° North
Atacam in South America: 23° South
Great Sandy in Australia: 20° South

85
Q

Fluvial Erosion

A

running water

86
Q

Aeolian Erosion

A

wind

87
Q

Glacial Erosion

A

moving ice

88
Q

Solution Erosion

A

ground water

89
Q

Diastrophism

A

The folding and faulting of earth’s crust

90
Q

Volcanism

A

Surface discharge of molten rock

91
Q

Extrusive Volcanism

A

Volcanic Eruption

92
Q

Intrusive Volcanism

A

only a small fraction of magma reaches the surface. Creates
Batholiths
Dykes
Sills

93
Q

External Geomorphic Processes

A

Weathering
Erosion
Mass Wasting

94
Q

Internal Geomorphic Processes

A

Crustal rearrangements (plate tectonics)
Volcanism
Diastrophism

95
Q

Mass Wasting

A

the geomorphic process by which soil, sand, regolith, and rock move downslope typically as a mass, largely under the force of gravity, but frequently affected by water and water content as in submarine environments and mudflows

96
Q

Plate Tectonics

A

Lithosphere is made up of a series of great and lesser plates that float over the asthenosphere
Continental drift is a consistent consequence of plate tectonics
Boundaries produce a majority of mountain ranges, volcanic eruptions, earthquake epicenters

97
Q

Snider-Pelligrini 1958

A

Produces a map of South Africa’s eastern coastline fitted against Africa’s coastline, Cited close similarity in fossil plant types in coal bearing rocks in Europe and North America

98
Q

Wegener 1912

A

Pangea- Supercontinent theory
Less dense layer of continental rock moving like a raft through a sea of more dense ocean rock
American Geologists rebuke
Violation of laws of physics because two strong rigid rock layers could not behave in this manner (one embedded in the other)

99
Q

50s-60s in Plate Tectonics

A

Polar wandering- Helped explain continental drift

Plate tectonics develops for continental drift (theory)

100
Q

Aeolian Deflation

A

Removing and lifting of individual loose particles

101
Q

Aeolian Abrasian

A

The grinding of rock surfaces w/ a sandblasting action by the captured particles in air

102
Q

Base Level

A

Lowest elevation of surrounding area that a river valley can be eroded down to

103
Q

The Seven Categories of River Valley Assesment

A

Stream Gradient: Slope, degree of inclination of channel?
Tributaries: How prevalent they are?
Dominant Surface: Elevation of Surrounding land?
Draining Quality: How well the surrounding land drains away excess water?
Lakes/Swamps: How prevalent are they?
Waterfalls: How prevalent are they?
Profile: Just a cross section of the channel

104
Q

Carbonation

A

limestone/marble

Large feature of glacial weathering. Colder water can hold more dissolved carbon dioxide.

105
Q

Ferromagnesian Silicate

A

Green or dark, sometimes crystals

106
Q

Nonferromagnesian Silicate

A

Colorless or white, translucent, cleavage

107
Q

Oxide

A

Red, silver or black or blue

108
Q

Sulfide

A

Brassy

109
Q

Carbonate

A

White or colorless

110
Q

Halide

A

Table salt or flouridic

111
Q

Native Elements

A

Gold, Silver

Intro to Physical Environment (1 decks)

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