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ASBOG STUDY / Surficial Processes
Erosional/Depositional features of karst, continental/alpine glaciation, and eolian terrains.
123
Geology
Undergraduate 4
02/26/2021

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Term
Karst terrain
Definition
Underlain by limestone/dolomite/soluble rock.
Term
Karst terrain
Definition
-valleys below headlands underlain by jointed & soluble rock at/near surface
-abundant rainfall
Term
Karst terrain
Definition
FL
MO
IN-KY
TN
Term
Terra Rossa
Definition
surficial red (CL-CH) clay
found on gentle/moderate slopes
Term
Lapies
Definition
Grooved/fluted limestone solution surface feature.
Creates knife-like ridges.
Term
Sinkholes
Definition
most common feature, created by solution or collapse of subsurface cave.
Term
Sinkhole ponds
Definition
Perched watertable in a clay-clogged sinkhole.
Term
Swallow hole
Definition
Hole at the bottom of a sinkhole where surface runoff flows in to subsurface cavities.
Term
Polje
Definition
A karst terrain "interior valley". A flat floored depression, usually created by lateral dissolution/planation.
Term
Sinkhole plain
Definition
A karst terrain region characterized by numerous sinkholes.
Term
Karst window
Definition
A hole in the ground where one can obs. subterranean water flowing between caverns.
Term
Uvala
Definition
Elongated karst window. Can be 1000s ft to a mile or longer.
Term
Solution subsidence
Definition
>10mi depression of subsidence and solution along a fault line.
Term
Sinking creek
Definition
A surficial waterway that disappears underground (possibly in to a swallow hole).
Term
Sink
Definition
The point at which a sinking creek ends.
Term
Blind valley
Definition
A valley ending at a swallow hole.
Term
Solution (karst) valley
Definition
A type of blind valley; A transitional feature between surface/subsurface drainage in an area of clastic rocks.
Term
Hum
Definition
Isolated hill remnant due to solution erosion in karst terrain.
Term
Cavern
Definition
Large underground cavity extending in any direction with ≥1 level.
Solution of limestone along joints/bedding planes.
Term
Natural tunnel/bridge
Definition
Structures created by underground water flow in karst terrain.
Collapse of tunnels w/ remaining segments creates (xxxxxxxxxxx).
Term
Travertine
Definition
CaCO3 precipitate in caverns, coats walls/floors/ceilings.
Term
Dripstone
Definition
Travertine deposits of carbonate-rich water from the ceiling.
Term
Stalactites
Definition
"Tight" to the ceiling.
Term
Stalagmites
Definition
Stand "mighty" up from the floor.
Term
Helicite
Definition
Irregular, twig-shaped deposits w/ water flow, damp but not dripping.
Term
Glacier
Definition
A permanent snowfield, compacted & recrystallized under its own weight.
Term
Glacial valley
Definition
Wider u-shape, rather than an incised river valley.
Term
Accumulation zone.
Definition
Uppermost region of a glacier w/ the most snowfall. Weight erodes solid rock underneath.
Term
Ablation zone
Definition
Lower zone of a glacier w/ the most snow & ice lost through melting.
Term
Ice front
Definition
Location where a glacier thins out to nothing.
Term
Ice-scoured plain
Definition
Assemblage of erosional landforms on exposed bedrock resulting in glacial flow.
Term
Roche moutonnee
Definition
Elongated bedrock knob, parallel to glacial directional flow.
Rounded upstream end, steep and sharp downstream end.
Term
Mammillated surface
Definition
Series of smooth rounded erosional rock mounds w/ alternating parallel valleys.
Term
Arcuate terminal moraine
Definition
Deposition of material at glaciers terminus, marking furthest progression.
Typically classified GC
Term
Arcuate terminal moraine
Definition
Younger glaciation creates a recessional moraine w/ advancement less than (xxxxxx).
Term
Till plain
Definition
"Ground moraine"
Deposition of GC (till) forming a relatively flat, undulating surface.
Buries pre-glacial topo.
Term
Drift
Definition
All rock/soil/material carried & deposited by a glacier, or glacial melt water.
Term
Till
Definition
Unsorted, unstratified glacial deposit (GC).
Mixture of CL/ML/SW/GW.
Term
Ground moraine
Definition
Synonymous w/ till plain.
Term
End moraine
Definition
Found at maximum extent of glacial movement.
Tend to be more extensive but difficult to distinguish w/ ground moraine material.
Term
Drumlin
Definition
Elongated ellipsoidal feature composed of till materials. Generally found clustered near terminal/recessional moraines.
Term
Outwash plain
Definition
Broad plain of stratified debris carried by meltwater in front of and beyond terminal/end moraines.
GW/SW grades to finer beds at distance.
Term
Esker
Definition
Serpentine-shaped "ridgeline" deposits.
Dropped bedload from subglacier meltwaters.
Kind of looks like a railroad embankment.
Term
Kettle
Definition
A depression in postglacial terrain, due to the melt of a stranded ice block.
Creates settlement of overlying glacial drift.
Term
Kame
Definition
An irregularly shaped hill/mound of sand to gravel. Created on the glacier w/in a surficial depression, then deposited after further melting.
Term
Kame terraces
Definition
Frequently found along margins of a glacial valley, these stratified deposits tend to slope downvalley and pair up on opposite sides of the valley.
Term
Cirque
Definition
A mountainous, high alpine horseshoe-shaped hollow, created by erosive action at the glaciers head.
Term
Tarn
Definition
A small deep lake forming w/in a cirque (i.e. a cirque lake).
Term
Glacial polish
Definition
Smoothed surface of bedrock due to abrasive action of glacial movement.
Term
Striations
Definition
Lines scraped into bedrock by rocks being transported at base of glacier. Point to glacial movement direction.
Term
Glacial trough
Definition
Steep, u-shaped valley, widened and deepened by glacial erosion.
Term
Glacial steps
Definition
A series of cross-valley steps, extending down from the cirque.
Term
Paternoster lakes
Definition
A series or chain of lakes located on glacial steps.
Term
Hanging valley
Definition
U-shaped glacial valley truncated by deeper glacial valley. Creates an elevated valley mouth high on the main valley wall.
Term
Arete
Definition
Jagged, sawtooth-like ridge, developed by cirques on opposite sides of the same ridgeline.
Term
Col
Definition
The narrow sharp-edged pass or sag along an arete.
Term
Horn
Definition
Jagged, sharp peak at an arete high point, due to erosional action of three or more cirques.
Term
Tinds (monuments)
Definition
An isolated horn due to lateral intersection of cirques.
Term
Truncated (faceted) spur
Definition
A pre-glacier ridgeline, running across the glaciers path, which has been truncated by the glacier as it scoured it's valley.
Term
Fjord
Definition
Submerged glacial trough/valley, resulting from risen sea levels as glaciers melted.
Term
Trough lake
Definition
Similar shape to a fjord (as a long glacial trough filled w/ water), but found above sea level.
Term
Valley train
Definition
Long, narrow deposit of GW/SW outwash deposited by meltwater, beginning at the end moraine and extending downvalley.
Term
Lacaustrine plain
Definition
A plain formed by a lake filling w/ sediment which has been deposited along glacial margins. V. flat bottom in hilly terrain.
Term
Knob & Basin topo.
Definition
Hummocky landscape consisting of knolls/mounds of drift, interspersed w/ basins/kettles (basins often filled w/ water).
Term
Sand blasting and deflation
Definition
Primary causes of eolian erosional features.
Term
Sand-blasting
Definition
Abrasion of the landscape by airborne sand particles.
Term
Deflation
Definition
Removal of loose sand grains by the wind.
Term
Yardang
Definition
Long, jagged, sharp-edged ridge between troughs, oriented w/ prevailing wind direction.
Term
Ventifacts
Definition
Stones unidirectionally abrated so as to create a faceted/polished surface.
Strong winds, plentiful sand, limited/no vegetation.
Term
Pedestal rocks
Definition
Combination of wind/water erosion where resistant rocks overlie more easily eroded (weaker) rocks.
Term
Blowout
Definition
Deflation-caused depression, either in surface of weaker underlying material or a small break in the surface of a larger windblown deposit.
Term
Desert Pavement
Definition
A relatively flat residual surface of closely-packed, wind-polished stone.
Term
Eolian deposits
Definition
Found in both actively migrating dune fields and areas stabilized by a change in climate and/or vegetation growth.
Term
Eolian deposits
Definition
Any particles smaller than sand removed by the wind, creating a consistent grain-sized deposit.
Term
Ridges/Ripples
Definition
Small-scale feature found on surface of sand deposits.
Term
Sand drift/shadow
Definition
Found due to sand path obstructions.
Shadow forms behind obstruction, drift forms on lee side.
Term
Dunes
Definition
Well sorted sand (SW) piled up due to transportation.
Term
Barchan Dune
Definition
Crescent-shaped, tails point downwind.
No vegetated cover.
Term
Parabolic Dune
Definition
Crescent-shaped, tails point upwind.
Some vegetated cover.
Term
Traverse Dune
Definition
Perpendicular to wind direction.
Gentle windward slope, steeper lee side slope.
Term
Seif (longitudinal dune)
Definition
Parallel to wind.
Term
Whaleback / Sand levee
Definition
V. large hill or ridge of sand, elongated parallel to prevailing wind.
Can be miles long and wide.
Term
Undulation
Definition
Small-scale whalebacks.
Term
Sandsheet
Definition
Extensive flat area covered w/ coarse-grained sand.
Typically covered w/ ripple marks.
Term
Loess
Definition
Wind-blown silt (ML) which is calcareous, homogeneous, and permeable.
Great for agriculture.
Term
Runoff
Definition
Dominant source of geomorphic activity.
Term
Sheet flow
Definition
Results in weathering of soil/rock; unconcentrated runoff contributes to development of valleys/systems/slopes.
Term
Base Level
Definition
Lowest level beyond which a stream cannot erode its bed.
Term
Bedload
Definition
Consists of heavier particulate (pebbles/gravel/boulders) which bounce (saltation) along the bottom of a channel.
Term
Suspended Load
Definition
The portion of sediment kept aloft in a water column by turbulence during downstream sediment transportation.
Term
Stream channel development
Definition
Deepening, widening, lengthening
Term
Shallow, slow channel water
Definition
Inside of the bends in a river.
Deposits larger sediments (gravel bars).
Term
Quicker channel water
Definition
Middle of the channel between riverbends.
Location of channel scouring.
Term
Deepest, quickest channel water
Definition
Outside of river bends; causes significant widening.
Term
Alluvial Fan
Definition
A fan-shaped deposit of a rivers sediment load, located at areas along the river where velocity is reduced, i.e. leaving mountainous foothills.
Term
Delta
Definition
Coarser-grained sloping foreset beds, which slope away from river mouth or offshore. (sands)
Finer-grained horizontal bottomset beds deposited further offshore. (silts/clays)
Term
Gravel (sand/point) bars
Definition
Midstream deposits of GP/SP where river velocity decreases. Generally seen located on inside of meanders.
Term
Natural levees
Definition
As river flood stage recedes, suspended load is deposited parallel to channel. Overtime, builds up along river channels.
Generally sand and coarse silt (SW-ML)
Term
Braided Stream
Definition
Inchannel deposits of GW/SW in braided pattern, due to channel velocity changes. Bedload shifts around due to deposited blockages.
Term
Stream terraces
Definition
In profile, a remnant of the old valley floor, or depositional accum. of stream deposits.
Older deposits elevated above more recent deposits as river channel continues vertical erosion.
Term
Free meanders
Definition
Form on flood plains due to river bank erosion.
A type of meander loop.
Term
Incised meanders
Definition
Form on a flat surface, but increased velocity erodes a deeper meander which prevents water from leaving the channel.
A type of meander loop.
Term
Ripple marks
Definition
Asymmetric indicates directional current.
Symmetrical indicates oscillating water current.
Term
Peneplain
Definition
Broad, relatively flat surface caused by various erosional processes over long time.
Includes marine abrasion a/o sheet wash.
Term
Pediments
Definition
Similar to peneplain, but are slightly inclined planer surfaces.
Meet mountains at upper abrupt angle, and grade to flat valley bottem.
Common in arid regions.
Term
Inselberg
Definition
Prominent isolated remnant of a mountain surrounded by pediment surface, e.g. Ayers Rock, Australia.
Term
Rock type/strength, joint/fracture pattern, coastline shape, tide swing, continental shelf extent/depth
Definition
Important characteristics that influence coastal erosion.
Term
USA Eastern Coast
Definition
Submerging/Retreated coast.
Term
USA Western Coast
Definition
Emerging/Advanced coast.
Term
Wave cut bench / marine terrace
Definition
A level, eroded platform that is/was at surf level, due to abrasion of rock debris.
Term
Sea cliff
Definition
Scarp-like feature found landward of marine terrace.
Caused by undercutting erosion of waves.
Term
Headlands
Definition
The more resistant rock of cliffs/upland area remaining following wave erosion.
Term
Sea arches / caves
Definition
Develop along headland, where wave erosive action from multiple directions.
Term
Stacks / chimneys
Definition
An isolated and separated portion of headland cliff; still exposed at high tide.
Term
Skerries
Definition
An isolated and separated portion of headland cliff; only exposed as tide recedes.
Term
Beach
Definition
Well-sorted sand deposits w/ constant mechanical weathering. Young deposits w/ larger gravels, mature w/ finer sands.
Term
Bars
Definition
Submerged sand ridges developed through wave action.
Generally develop in the winter w/ storm activities, and disappear during summers calm.
Term
Spit
Definition
Deposition occurs as longshore currents deposit sand off of a coastal projection.
Term
Hook
Definition
Deposition of sand at the end of a spit due to wrap-around wave action.
Term
Tombolo
Definition
A connecting "bridge" of a sand bar between the beach and a stack.
Term
Barrier beach
Definition
A built-up and permanent sand bar, which over time develops sand dunes and vegetation.
Term
Barrier island
Definition
Shallow and calm lagoons develops between the beach and the (xxxxx).
Term
Barrier island chain
Definition
A string of islands running parallel to the shore.
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