Wpr2 Flashcards
Oceanic crust. Magmas with low amounts of silica. Dark colored magnesium and iron rich materials.
Mafic
Formed by cooling and solidification of molten rock. “Welding of tiny pieces of solid volcanic rock.
Igneous
Continental crust. Magmas with large amounts of silica. Light colored silicate materials such as quartz and feldspar. Low densities and melting temps.
Felsic
Formed through the accumulation of sediment. Consolidated through compression and cementation. Characteristic= stratification.
Sedimentary
Formed by exposing igneous or sedimentary rock to high pressure and temp. Causes a change in mineral structure, composition and rock texture.
Metamorphic
Magmas cools below surface. Slower cooling process. Coarse grained, large crystals/minerals. Granite(felsic) Gabbro(mafic)
Igneous intrusive
Lava cools above surface, faster cooling. Fine grained, small crystals. Basalt (mafic) obsidian (felsic)
Igneous extrusive
Sediments of other rocks are compacted and cemented, layered. Sandstone and shale.
Sedimentary Detrital
Solids precipitate out of solution. Soluble. Limestone, travertine.
Sedimentary chemical
Sedimentary and igneous rocks exposed to heat and uneven pressure. Minerals align: bands wavy structure. Gneiss, slate.
Metamorphic foliated
Even pressure. Large crystal growth, 1 mineral dominates. Marble, quartz
Metamorphic non-foliated
Wearing down or destructive processes which decreases relief.
Denudation
Mid ocean ridges formed by currents of magma rising up from mantle. This creates new basaltic ocean floor that spreads away laterally from ridge and creates me crust. Older oceanic crust is subducted back into the crust and recycled.
Sea floor spreading
Plutonic, form from the cooling of magma below the surface.
Intrusive
Volcanic, form from the cooling of lava or the bonding of pyroclastic materials on the surface.
Extrusive
Organically accumulated sedimentary rocks. Formed by the remains of dead plant material.
Sedimentary organic
Plates diverge, magma wells up in the opening between plates. Constructive because material is being added to the crust. Represented by mid ocean ridge.
Divergent boundary
Plates collide. Destructive because the result in removal of or compression of the surface crust. Responsible for major mountain ranges,volcanoes and oceanic trenches.
Convergent boundaries
Tow plates slip past one another laterally. Neither create or destroy crust. Associated with seismic activity, producing shallow focus earthquakes. Most are along mid ocean ridge system
Transform boundary
Occurs at plate boundaries (causer of earthquakes)
Seismicity
Result when magma rises to the earths surface. Occurs when tectonic plates are subducted. Convergent or divergent plate boundaries
Volcanoes
Large, steeply sided volcanoes. Explosive eruptions. Vicious lava. Felsic.
Composite volcano
Gentle, nonexplosive eruptions. Low viscous lava. Mafic
Shield
Steeper than composite volcanoes, intermediate volatile contents. Mafic. Reddish- brown pyroclastic debris.
Cinder
Steep sided structures that form at the summit of a volcano, on its flanks, or as independent volcanic centers. Viscous lava that piled around the vent. Felsic.
Dome
Process at oceanic trenches where lithosphere descends into asthenosphere. New sea floor is created for the seafloor lost in this process.
Subduction
Explains the existence of hotspots. Example: Hawaiian islands lie far from tectonic plate boundaries, but still show volcanism.
Mantle plume
Molten mineral material. On earths surface called lava. Contains phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur required for plant growth.
Magma
High silica, high viscosity, trapped gas
Felsic volcano
Low silica, low viscosity
Mafic
A simple symmetrical unfold in rock structure. HILL
Anticlines
A simple downfold in rock structure. VALLEY
Synclines
Breaking down of rock into smaller components by atmosphere and biotic agencies. Mechanical chemical and biological.
Weathering
Short distance downslope movement of broken rock under the direct influence of gravity.
Mass wasting
Removal, transportation, and eventual deposition of fragmented rock over wider areas. Greater distances.
Erosion
Physical disintegration of rock material without changes to chemical composition (wedging, salt wedging, exfoliation)
Mechanical
The composition of rock by the chemical alteration of its minerals. Better in humid regions and high temps. (Oxidation, carbonation, hydrolysis)
Chemical weathering
Weathering involving living organisms
Biological weathering
Rockfall in mountainous areas, pieces of unsourced, angular rock that fall are called talus or scree.
Fall
Landslides carry large masses of rock and soil down slope abruptly.instantaneous collapse of slope and movement along a generally flare sliding plane. Initiated by rain, earthquakes and lateral erosion of streams.
Slides
Slope failure in which the rock moves downward and at the same time rotates outward along a curved slide plane that has its concave side facing upward
Slump
A section of a slope. Unstable due to the addition of water, flows downhill, may be rapid or gradual l the center of the mass moves faster than the base and sides.
Flow
Slowest and least perceptible form; very gradual downhill movement of soil can only be recognized by indirect evidence; usually the entire slope is involved. Occurs on all slope surfaces, accelerated by water
Creep
Largest particle a stream can carry
Competence
Amount of solid material a stream has the potential to transport.
Capacity
The placement of material that has been moved from another location.
Deposition
Winding channel. Usually high gradient. Mountains valleys or other relatively uniform geographic structure. Faster water than meandering but not as curving.
Sinuous
Serpentine. Low gradient flare land. Continuous process of deposition and erosion. Most rock transported are fine grained suspended load. Fastest part of water on outside (crating cutbacks)
Meandering
Multiplicity of interwoven and interconnected channels separated by low bars or islands of sand, gravel and other loose debris. Takes place when very flat stream channel has heavy load of sediment
Braided
Formed when meandering stream flows across wide nearly flat valley floor. Produces rapid and sometimes abrupt changes in the channel.
Flood plain
Caused by deposition of alluvium on the inside of bends
Point bar
Occur when the neck of a meander is cut through by the stream
Oxbow lake
When an oxbow lake dries up this is left
Oxbow scar
Erosion occurs in the outside of the meander bend where the water flow is fastest, forming the cut bank
Cut banks
Mouth of a river
Delta
% of total volume of the material that consists of voids (pore spaces or cracks) that can be filled with water
Porosity
The ability to transmit underground water. Determined by th size of pores and by their degree of interconnectedness
Permeability
Lowering of the water table around a well. Size increases with withdrawal rate.
Cone of depression
Removal of bedrock through chemical action of water.
Dissolution
Topography developed as a consequence of subsurface solution. Special landform that develop on exceptionally solvable rocks.
Karst
Where ground water is stored. Confined vs unconfined. Permeable rock layer can transmit and supply water.
Aquifers
Impermeable rock layer that prevents water movement
Aquicludes
Top of saturated zone
Water table
Removal of bedrock through the chemical action of water
Dissolution
Why are mechanical weathering processes more common in arid regions
Thin or absent veering of soil and regolith exposes bedrock to weathering and erosion
Landforms are produced largely by _______ in deserts
Water
Creates steep, rugged, rocky surfaces. During rain bed rock is mechanically weathered and eroded by running water. Erosion by rain splash, sheet wash,rilling,and stream flow. Rapid and effective.
Fluvial erosion
How are aeolian processes both erosional and depositional in desert regions
Effective in the dessert due to fines grain terrain and unconsolidated sedimentary material exposed tot he atmosphere without protection.
Type of aeolian erosion: shifting of loose particles as a result of being blown through the air or along the ground
Deflation
Type of aeolian erosion: driving of airborne sand and dust particles against rock and soil surfaces in a form of natural sandblasting
Abrasion
Type of aeolian transportation: most sand leaps along the surface from strong winds, striking the ground and bouncing onward
Saltation
Type of aeolian transportation: wind rolls and pushes larger particles along the ground
Traction
Sand dunes created because sheltered air pockets on dune leeward side slow down wind and promotes deposition
Aeolian deposition
Numerous ranges of mountains and hills scattered around a series of interior drainage basins
Basin and range
Mountain ranges dominate the horizon in all directions
Range
A transition area from the steep slopes of ranges to the near flatness of the basins
Piedmont zone
Has a very gentle slope from all sides toward some low point, usually the playa
Basin
Flat-topped, steep-sided Hill with a limited summit area; resistant limestone and sandstone from an extensive cap rock (harder/more resistant rock type overlaying a weaker or less resistant rock type).
Mesa
Steep, vertical cliffs; at the eroded edge of the caprock
Scarp
Happen in the desert quickly due to the desert floors impermeability. Can be very dangerous
Flash floods
A stream that flows into a dry region, bringing its water from somewhere else
Exotic stream
Dry lake bed in basin if interior drainage
Playa lake
Salt lake; commonly caused by interior stream stream drainage in arid environment
Saline lake
The process whereby different rocks or parts of the same rock erode at different rates
Differential erosion
A stream that carries water only during the wet season or during and immediately after it rains 99% of streams in the desert are this type
Ephemeral stream
Accumulation of water-deposited material by a stream issuing from a mountain canyon
Alluvial fan
Destruction of the biological potential of the land due to the expansion of desert conditions into areas not previously desert
Desertification
Two types of glaciers
Continental ice sheets and mountain glaciers
Form in non-mountainous areas, vast blankets of ice. Ice accumulates to great depths in the interior of the sheet but much thinner on the outer edges. Larger in size than mountain glaciers
Continental ice sheets
Ice accumulated in an unconfined sheet in high mountain areas, outlets are often tongues of ice that travel down valleys in the mountains
Mountain glaciers
Gain of ice
Accumulation
Loss of ice through melting and sublimination
Ablation
As the moving ice scrapes against bedrock , friction causes the lower most ice to melt, and water created reduces pressure on the rock. Frost wedging occurs in joints and fractures. Roughens underlying surfaces
Glacial plucking
Bedrock is worn down by rock debris dragged along in the moving ice; produces polished surfaces and grooves
Abrasion
Meltwater streams flowing below glaciers can transport rock and erode smooth grooves and channels into bedrock
Subglacial meltwater
All material moved by glaciers
Drift
Unsorted not stratified rock and sediment material left behind by glacier
Till
Glacial stream runoffs carry debris directly from the ice and carries sedimentary material washed from positions in, on, or beneath the glaciers
Secondary deposition
Maintenance of the hydrostatic equilibrium of earths crust , the sinking of the crust as weight is applied and rising of crust as weight is removed
Isostacy
The largest and generally most conspicuous feature produced by glacial deposition of till, consists of irregular rolling topography that rises above the level of surrounding terrain
Moraine
Extensive glaciofluvial feature that is relatively smooth, flattish alluvial apron deposited beyond recessional or terminal moraines by streams issuing from ice
Outwash plain
A valley reshaped by an alpine glacier, usually u shaped
Glacial trough
The phenomenon where waves change direction as they approach the shore; one portion of the wave reaches shallower water sooner than other portion and is slowed down
Wave refraction
Incessant pounding of waves wears the shore, and large shores accomplish erosion
Wave erosion
Commonly shared beliefs or ideas (language, religion, law,ethics)
Mentifact
Organizations (honor committee, corps of cadets) they create things that a culture does
Sociofact
Things culture makes for specific purpose (material objects, means to live)
Artifact
Group takes its innovation and moves elsewhere with it
Relocation
Innovations spread through hierarchy (influence of leaders, heads of state)
Expansion
Geographic location of a culture (where people share common characteristics or defined by specific boundaries)
Formal region
Where people believe/perceive culture to be from
Vernacular
An organized area or focal point , a node (train system, airline)
Functional
Physical character of a place
Site
The location of a place relative to other places
Situation
Where an innovation or practice originates from
Hearth
Spread of ideas through influence of leaders
Hierarchical diffusion
When innovation spreads like disease
Contagious diffusion
Spread of underlying principle but is altered to fit a new culture
Stimulus diffusion
Equator —>
0 degrees
Tropic of Cancer —>
23.5 N degrees
Tropic of Capricorn
23.5 S DEGREES
Arctic circle
66.5 degrees N
Antarctic circle
66.5 degrees S
North Pole
90 degrees N
South Pole
90 degrees S
Prime meridian
Longitude
June solstice : approximate date , sub solar point, solar altitude, day length
June 21 @ Tropic of Cancer 90 degrees at Tropic of Cancer. Equator day and night 12/12 , NP 24 day, SP 0 hours daylight
September equinox: approximate date, subsolar point, solar altitude, day length
September 22, equator, 90 @ equator, all locations 12hours day 12 hours night
December solstice, date, subsolar Point, solar altitude, day length
December 21, @ Tropic of Capricorn 23.5 S, 90 @ Tropic of Capricorn, equator 12/12, NP 0 hours, SP 24 hours
March equinox, date, subsolar Point, solar altitude, day length
March 20, @ equator, 90 @ equator, all locations have 12/12
Dividing line between the daylight half of the earth and the night time half
Circle of illumination
Circle of illumination bisects equator ( one of the polar circles receives 24 hours sunlight)
June and December solstices
Circle of illumination bisects polar circles (12/12 everywhere)
March and September equinox
Latitude receiving vertical rays of the sun
Subsolar Point or declaration of the sun
Angle of incidence or solar altitude
90Degrees - arc distance
Relationship between the map size and the actual distance
Map scale
Gaining info about an object without physical contact done through aerial photo graphs, visible, infrared, thermal, multi spectral, radar and sonar sensing
Remote sensing
Layering remote sensing information to analyze it
GIS geographic information-systems
Lines on a map that join points of equal value
Isolines
Unvarying composition over time and space
Permanent gas —> nitrogen and oxygen
Varying composition over Time and space
Variable gas
Absobrs thermal infrared radiation warms atmosphere
CO2
Absorbs UV rays found in stratosphere
Ozone
Lowest layer, majority of gas s, vertical mixing, 0-18 km decreasing temp with altitude due to increased distance to radiation from earth
Troposphere
No mixing , contains ozone layer, increasing heat with altitude length due to ozone layers heat
Stratosphere
Atmospheric gases readily transmit incoming short-waves from sun to earth but do not easily transmit outgoing long wave terrestrial radiation resulting in heat energy being trapped inside the atmosphere
Greenhouse effect
Incoming solar radiation
Insulation
Transfer of heat between molecules in physical contact
Conduction
Transfer of heat by vertical circulation of fluid
Convection
Transfer of heat by horizontal movement of fluid
Advection
Heating and cooling through air compression / expansion
Adiabatic
Exchange of energy by a phase change
Latent heat
Air moves from high to low pressure, always a factor
Pressure gradient
Air deflects to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere
Coriolanus effect
Low pressure center with ascending air counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere, convergent I’m friction layer, stormy weather
Cyclones
High pressure centers with descending air that moves clockwise in the northern hemisphere , divergent in friction layer ,fair weather
Anti-cyclone
Air moves from high to low pressure, always a factor
Pressure gradient
Air deflects to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere
Coriolis effect
Low pressure center with ascending air counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere, convergent I’m friction layer, stormy weather
Cyclones
High pressure centers with descending air that moves clockwise in the northern hemisphere , divergent in friction layer ,fair weather
Anti-cyclone
Occur because sun heats up the interior of the continent creating a low pressure system lower than the ITCZ. Warm moist air flows from the area of high pressure to low pressure but mountain are in the way. Air goes over the mountain but condenses out bringing lots of rain.
Monsoon ( Himalayas)
What happens to latent heat when it is released?
Condensation
When latent heat is absorbed
Evaporation
Equation for relative humidity
Actual amount of water vapor / capacity for water in the air X 100%
Ingredients for clouds
Water vapor
Condensation nuclei ( particulates)
Rising air
Dew point = air temperature
Air becomes saturated
Atmospheric stability : Rising air is cooler than the surrounding air
Stable
Atmospheric stability : rising air is warmer than the surrounding air
Unstable
