S6(4) Topic 01 - Natural environment (Himalayas) Flashcards
What is erosion?
Erosion is the process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth’s surface by natural processes of movement (e.g a river or a glacier).
Example: Erosion can occur due to wind, water, or ice.
What is weathering?
Weathering is the breakdown of rocks at the Earth’s surface due to various factors, including temperature changes and chemical reactions. This happens in-situ (without movement).
What is a supercontinent?
A supercontinent is a large landmass that is composed of multiple continental plates.
What is the climatological evidence for supercontinents?
Coal is formed in tropical conditions. Today many fossil fuels are believed to exist below Antarctica which is cold today but previously was located in a tropical region.
What are convection currents?
Convection currents are movements within a fluid caused by the tendency of warmer, less dense material to rise and cooler, denser material to sink. This takes place within the asthenosphere and is triggered by temperatures of around 5000 degrees in the core.
What is a destructive plate boundary?
A destructive plate boundary is where two tectonic plates collide, leading to one plate being forced beneath another.
What is a constructive plate boundary?
A constructive plate boundary is where two tectonic plates move apart, allowing magma to rise and create new crust.
What is subduction?
Subduction is the process by which one tectonic plate moves under another and is forced into the mantle.
What is a simple fold?
A simple fold is a bend in rock layers that occurs when they are compressed and folded.
What is an overfold?
An overfold is a type of fold that occurs when rock layers are pushed beyond their normal limits, resulting in a steep incline.
What are nappes?
Nappes are large sheets of rock that have been moved over other rocks due to tectonic forces.
What are fold mountains?
Fold mountains are mountains formed by the folding of the Earth’s crust due to tectonic forces.
What is the core of the Earth?
The core is the innermost layer of the Earth, composed primarily of iron and nickel. Temperatures of more than 5000 degrees celcius.
What is the mantle (asthenosphere)?
The mantle, or asthenosphere, is the layer of the Earth located between the crust and the core, characterized by semi-fluid rock.
What is the crust (lithosphere)?
The crust, or lithosphere, is the outermost layer of the Earth, consisting of solid rock.
What is deposition?
Deposition is the process by which sediments, soil, and rocks are added to a landform or land mass.
What is the transportation of sediment?
The transportation of sediment refers to the movement of solid particles from one location to another.
What is the climate of the Himalayas?
The climate of the Himalayas varies significantly with altitude and location, ranging from tropical to polar conditions.
What is the vegetation of the Himalayas?
The vegetation of the Himalayas includes a diverse range of flora, from tropical forests at lower elevations to alpine tundra at higher altitudes.
What are the rivers of the Himalayas?
The rivers of the Himalayas are major water bodies that originate in the mountain range and flow into surrounding regions. E.g The Ganges, Indus and Bhramaputra.
What is the Plateau of Tibet?
The Plateau of Tibet is a vast, elevated region located north of the Himalayas, known as the ‘Roof of the World.’
What are the mountains of the Himalayas?
The mountains of the Himalayas are a major mountain range in Asia, home to some of the world’s highest peaks, including Mount Everest.
What are the climate zones of the Himalayas?
The climate zones of the Himalayas range from subtropical at the base to polar at the highest elevations.
What are monsoons?
Monsoons are seasonal winds that bring heavy rainfall to the Indian subcontinent, particularly affecting the Himalayas.
What are glaciers?
Glaciers are large masses of ice that form from compacted snow and flow slowly over land.
What is a drainage basin?
A drainage basin is an area of land where all precipitation collects and drains into a common outlet, such as a river.
What is a flood hydrograph?
A flood hydrograph is a graph that shows the rate of flow (discharge) of water in a river over time, particularly during a flood event.
What is a watershed?
A watershed is an area of land that drains into a particular river or body of water.
What is a confluence?
A confluence is the point where two or more rivers meet.
What is the mouth of a river (delta)?
The mouth of a river, often forming a delta, is where the river meets a larger body of water and deposits sediment.
What is a tributary?
A tributary is a smaller river or stream that flows into a larger river.
What is a catchment area?
A catchment area is the region from which water is collected for a particular river or reservoir.
What is the source of a river?
The source of a river is the original point from which the river flows, often found in highland areas.
What is the hydrological cycle?
The hydrological cycle is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.
What is a drainage basin system?
A drainage basin system is the interconnected network of rivers and streams that drain a specific area.
What is transpiration?
Transpiration is the process by which water is absorbed by plants and released as vapour into the atmosphere.
What is interception?
Interception is the process by which precipitation is caught and held by vegetation before it reaches the ground.
What is throughflow?
Throughflow is the lateral movement of water through the soil layer towards a river or stream.
What is a climate graph?
A climate graph is a visual representation of the average temperature and precipitation in a specific area over time.
What is a pie chart?
A pie chart is a circular statistical graphic divided into slices to illustrate numerical proportions.
What is a bar graph?
A bar graph is a chart that presents categorical data with rectangular bars representing the values.
What is a divided bar chart?
A divided bar chart is a bar chart that shows the composition of a whole by dividing bars into segments.
What is a line graph?
A line graph is a type of chart that displays information as a series of data points called ‘markers’ connected by straight line segments.
What is a multiple line graph?
A multiple line graph is a graph that displays more than one line, allowing for comparison between different data sets.
What is an annotated sketch diagram?
An annotated sketch diagram is a drawing that includes labels that fully explain the components and processes depicted.
What is Föhn?
A Föhn is a warm, dry wind that descends the leeward side of a mountain range.
What is the windward side?
The windward side is the side of a mountain that faces the wind and receives more precipitation.
What is the leeward side?
The leeward side is the side of a mountain that is sheltered from the wind and typically drier.
What is the dry adiabatic lapse rate?
The dry adiabatic lapse rate is the rate at which dry air cools as it rises, approximately 10°C per kilometer.
What is the wet adiabatic lapse rate?
The wet adiabatic lapse rate is the rate at which saturated air cools as it rises, approximately 6°C per kilometer.
What is condensation?
Condensation is the process by which water vapour turns into liquid water, forming clouds or dew.
What is glaciation?
Glaciation is the process by which an area becomes covered by glaciers.
What are exogenic processes?
Exogenic processes are geological processes that occur at or near the Earth’s surface, such as erosion and weathering.