Term
| The lithosphere interacts with |
|
Definition
the
hydrosphere and atmosphere on
continents mainly through: |
|
|
Term
The lithosphere interacts with the
hydrosphere and atmosphere on
continents mainly through: |
|
Definition
– Weathering
– Erosion
– Mass Wasting |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
the physical breakdown
(disintegration) and chemical alteration
(decomposition) of rock at Earth’s surface |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
the physical removal of material by
mobile agents such as water, wind, ice, or
gravity |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
the transfer of rock and soil
downslope under the influence of gravity |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
The ability a physical system to do
work on other physical systems |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Water flowing in streams or wind blowing
across the landscape do three types of geologic
work:
transferring material down slope |
|
|
Term
Water flowing in streams or wind blowing
across the landscape do three types of geologic
work: |
|
Definition
– Erosion of rocks to remove sediment
– Sediment transport
– Sediment deposition |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
A landscape is an open system with highly
variable inputs of energy and materials |
|
|
Term
Uplift of the land creates potential energy of
position above sea level: |
|
Definition
| A disequilibrium is created between relief and energy |
|
|
Term
| Energy from the Sun drives the |
|
Definition
hydrologic and
atmospheric processes that then cause weathering,
erosion, and mass wasting of the uplifted
landscape: |
|
|
Term
Energy from the Sun drives the hydrologic and
atmospheric processes that then cause weathering,
erosion, and mass wasting of the uplifted
landscape: |
|
Definition
These processes wear down and return the land surface
to lower elevations closer to sea level |
|
|
Term
Assumes a balance among forces, forms, and
processes that affect landscapes: |
|
Definition
Balancing act between tectonic uplift and landscape
reduction by weathering, erosion, and mass wasting |
|
|
Term
Landscapes adapt to any changing conditions
in: |
|
Definition
Rock structure (e.g. faults, folds, etc.)
– Climate
– Local relief
– Elevation |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
land surface;
weathering,
erosion, and mass
wasting reduce the
elevation, creating
landforms in the
process |
|
|
Term
All four
processes can
occur |
|
Definition
simultaneously in
dynamic
equilibrium over
millions of years |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
The general process by which rocks at
Earth’s surface are broken down into |
|
|
Term
The general process by which rocks at
Earth’s surface are broken down into: |
|
Definition
Sediment (rock particles and individual
minerals)
– Mineral products of chemical reactions (clay
and hematite)
– Dissolved ions |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Mechanical weathering:
Chemical weathering |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Rocks broken down by physical processes
such as fracturing, freezing-thawing, and
breakage during transport |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
– Chemical reactions between minerals and
external agents like air or water |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Rock
z
Water
z
Carbonic Acid
(H
2
CO
3
) and
Organic Acids |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Rock Fragments
z
Clay Minerals
z
Hematite (oxidation)
z
Dissolved Ions (Na
+
,
K
+
, Ca
2+
, Mg
2+
,
HCO
3
-
, Cl
-
, SO
4
2-
) |
|
|
Term
| Major Processes of Chemical Weathering |
|
Definition
Hydrolysis
Dissolution
Oxidation |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
– The reaction of certain minerals with water
– Hydrogen ion attacks and replaces other ions
– Residual clay and dissolved ions common products |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
– Aided by small amounts of acid in the water
– All ions go into solution: No residual minerals |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
– Oxygen steals electrons from other elements
– Iron oxide (hematite) common product |
|
|
Term
| Factors Affecting Weathering |
|
Definition
Composition of the bedrock
Character of the bedrock:
Climate:
Vegetation: |
|
|
Term
| Composition of the bedrock |
|
Definition
| Some minerals weather faster than others |
|
|
Term
| Character of the bedrock: |
|
Definition
Joints, faults and bedding planes aid in weathering by
weakening the rock and allowing water infiltration |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Chemical weathering faster in warm, moist climates
– Mechanical weathering prominent in cold climates
where freezing water pries apart rock fractures |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Tree roots can enter and pry apart fractures
– Organic acids contribute to chemical weathering |
|
|
Term
| Minerals most resistant to weathering: |
|
Definition
Quartz
– *Hematite (iron oxide)
– *Clay
– K- and Na-rich feldspar (dry climates |
|
|
Term
Minerals most susceptible (vulnerable) to
weathering: |
|
Definition
Mafic silicates (olivine, pyroxene and amphibole)
– Halite (soluble in water)
– Calcite (soluble in weakly acidic water) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Products of chemical weathering |
|
|
Term
| How Different Rocks Respond to Weathering:Quartzite |
|
Definition
insoluble;
weathers slowly |
|
|
Term
| How Different Rocks Respond to Weathering:Limestone |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Each mineral in
granite weathers |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Iron Oxidized To Hematite |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Process by which the products of
weathering are removed by water,
wind and/or ice |
|
|
Term
The principle erosional agents of the
hydrosphere are: |
|
Definition
Rivers and Streams
– Groundwater
– Glaciers |
|
|
Term
Principle erosional agent of the
atmosphere is |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Streams are vital geologic agents that |
|
Definition
Carry most of the water that go from land to
sea
– Transport billions of tons of sediment to the
oceans each year
– Carry small amounts of soluble salts to the
sea
– Shape the surface of the earth |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
When stream flow is sufficiently strong,
it can dislodge and lift particles in the
channel |
|
|
Term
Loosely consolidated particles are lifted
by: |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
particles more
effectively |
|
|
Term
Streams
with higher
discharge
can carry |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Potholes formed by rotational |
|
Definition
| motion of swirling pebbles |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
the lowest point to which a
stream can erode |
|
|
Term
| Two general types of base level |
|
Definition
– Ultimate (sea level)
– Local or temporary (resistant rock
layers, lakes, dams, etc.) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Streams That Flow in Steep,
Narrow Valleys |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
• Land is uplifted
• Sea level drops
Stream down-cuts
in order to achieve
new base level |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
– V-shaped
– Downcutting toward base level
– Features often include rapids and waterfalls |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
– Stream is near base level
– Downward erosion is less dominant
– Stream energy is directed from side to side
forming a floodplain |
|
|
Term
| Karst topography results when |
|
Definition
slightly
acidic groundwater dissolves limestone
bedrock: |
|
|
Term
Karst topography results when slightly
acidic groundwater dissolves limestone
bedrock: |
|
Definition
– Caves
– Sinkholes
– Karst towers
– Underground streams |
|
|
Term
Groundwater slowly
dissolves |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
A slope is an open system seeking an angle of
equilibrium where the slope is stable |
|
|
Term
| Shape of the slope is governed by rates of |
|
Definition
weathering, breakup of slope materials, rates of
mass movement and material erosion |
|
|
Term
A slope strives for a balance among several
conflicting forces: |
|
Definition
Gravity
– Frictional resistance between the slope and particles
– Inertia (tendency of particles to remain at rest)
– Cohesion and internal friction of particles |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Angle of repose is the maximum angle a
slope can have and still be stable |
|
|
Term
| Angle of repose depends on several factors: |
|
Definition
Coarser materials can have steeper slopes
– Cohesiveness and internal friction of the
material: |
|
|
Term
| Wet, unsaturated sand is more cohesive than |
|
Definition
dry sand and thus can have steeper slope…
…but too much water can destroy cohesion and lead
to slope failure |
|
|
Term
| A Slope Is In Dynamic Equilibrium |
|
Definition
Endogenic events (earthquakes and volcanic eruptions)
and exogenic events (heavy rainfall or forest fire) can
destabilize a slope initially at equilibrium |
|
|
Term
| If geomorphic threshold is reached by the event, |
|
Definition
then
disequilibrium and ultimately slope failure can occur |
|
|
Term
| Factors leading to slope failure: |
|
Definition
– Excess precipitation
– Sudden shocks such as volcanic eruptions and
earthquakes
– Removal of vegetation
– Changes in land use
– Overloading the slope
– Undercutting by streams or waves
– Road cuts |
|
|
Term
| Observe some ways that slopes fail |
|
Definition
Undercut cliff
earthquake activity
too steep of a slope
landslide
undercut slope |
|
|
Term
| Observe some events that could trigger slope failure |
|
Definition
precipitation
volcanic eruptions
changes in land use
overloading slope
undercutting slope
sudden shock as from an earth quake |
|
|
Term
| Classification of Slope Failure |
|
Definition
Type of material
Mechanism of movement:
Rate of movement |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Solid rock
– Unconsolidated material (sediment, soil or mixture
called debris) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
– Fall (free-fall from a near-vertical face)
– Slide (rock or material moves as a coherent mass
down-slope)
– Flow (rock or material moves as incoherent material
down-slope) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Which of the following statements LEAST-LIKELY applies to landscapes? |
|
Definition
| A landscape is in steady-state equilibrium and never changes with time if all the input variables remain the same |
|
|
Term
| _________involves the mechanical breakdown of rocks into smaller particles without changing the overall composition of the minerals. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Which of the following minerals is most susceptible to chemical weathering via dissolution and most likely to be destroyed? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Each of the following are reactants in the weathering process except for _______, which is a product of weathering |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding drainage systems and basins? |
|
Definition
| Only a large area covering several states can be considered a drainage basin. |
|
|
Term
| Which of the following characterizes a stream that has reached base level? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| A stream terrace represents.. |
|
Definition
| A former flood plain occurring along the sides of a valley above the elevation of the present stream |
|
|
Term
| Within limestone bedrock undergoing dissolution by slightly acidic groundwater, ________ form below the water table within the zone of saturation while ___________ form above the water table within the zone of aeration. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Which of the following can have the greatest angle of repose? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Which of the following types of slope failure is the fastest? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
What type of mass movement is depicted in the figure below?
[image] |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
What type of drainage pattern is depicted in the following illustration?
[image] |
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Definition
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