Geomorphology

Question 1

Endogenic Processes

Answer 1

driven by plate tectonics
mountains, volcanoes, faults
create new landmass

Question 2

Relief

Answer 2

differences in height in a specific location
enodogenic processes increase relief, exogenic processes (weathering) reduce it

Question 3

exogenic processes

Answer 3

processes driven by energy sources external to the mantle, mainly solar energy
weathering and movement of weathered material

Question 4

geologic cycle

Answer 4

natural cycle of recycling of Earth’s minerals over time, involves the rock cycle and the endo and exogenic processes

Question 5

Mass wasting

Answer 5

mass movement of eroded material due to gravity (ex: landslides)

Question 6

Fluvial transport

Answer 6

sediment transported by water, eroded and deposited

Question 7

Rain Shadow effect

Answer 7

winds accumulate humidity over ocean, cools as it rise up mountain face, condenses and rains down, wind passes over mountain to other side, no rain

Question 8

Drainage Basin

Answer 8

topographical region which concentrates water received as precipitation into a series of geographically isolated rivers, eventually lead to one type of water body

Question 9

Zones in drainage basins

Answer 9

erosion zone - where water collects sediment for transport, forms v-shape valleys
transport zone - some sediment begins to be deposited, meandering river systems are formed
deposition zone - where remainder of the sediment is deposited, forms estuaries and deltas

Question 10

Meandering river systems formation:

Answer 10

determined by flow rate of water, size of particles being eroded, local geography
faster edge of river erodes existing landmass –> gradual movement of the river over time

Question 11

Estuaries

Answer 11

river flow not strong enough to hold back the ocean, ocean waters moving inland brings salt and sediment

Question 12

Deltas

Answer 12

when flow of river is greater than the pressure of the ocean water, freshwater and sediment extends past the coastline

Question 13

Alluvial Fans

Answer 13

when deposition zones occur inland away from oceans, sediment depostited in a fan shaped landform
as water drains into a groundwater source

Question 14

V-shaped valleys

Answer 14

have steep slopes but gradually form rounder slopes as erosion removes increasing amounts of rock
formed by rivers

Question 15

Glacial Movement

Answer 15

glaciers form where air temperature is cold enough for long term snow build-up –> pressure converts snow into ice –> snow at the head of the glacier forces mass down
leaves behind a U-shaped valley and characteristic sediment deposits (glacial till, isolated drop stones)

Question 16

Erosional Coast

Answer 16

wave energy erodes existing terrestrial landform, forms beaches

Question 17

Depositional coast

Answer 17

deposition and reworking of existing sediments by wave action (net deposition and creation of new coastal landforms)

Question 18

Eolian Movement

Answer 18

wind is an important driver of sediment movement, especially in arid regions
forms sand dunes, desert pavement, rock outcropping (softer rock eroded first)

Question 19

Shocked quartz

Answer 19

evidence for bolide/extraterrestrial impact
quartz forms stress lines when subject to intense pressure and temperature

Question 20

Shatter cones

Answer 20

form when underlying bedrock is exposed to extreme temperature and pressure

Question 21

Late Pleistocene glaciation

Answer 21

retreating sea level as a result of glacier formation
before: major drainage basin emptied into Hudson Bay, but glacier required freshwater to flow elsewhere (into Mississippi)
plant species moved bc of pollen moving