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Intro to Physical Environment > Exam 3 > Flashcards

Exam 3 Flashcards

(111 cards)

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1
Q

Divergent Plate Boundary

A

Two plates, moving away from each other
Mostly located along the ridge systems in deep ocean basins
Represent sides of seafloor spreading

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2
Q

Convergent Plate Boundary

A

Two plates moving toward each other,
Associated w Volcanic Activity
Subduction

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3
Q

Subduction

A

One plate slides under the other
When only oceanic crust is involved, an island chain is formed (Ex. Aleutian Islands)
When only continental crust is involved, mountains are formed

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4
Q

Transform Plate Boundary

A

Two plates slip horizontally past one another
Seismic activity occurs, but little volcanic activity
Example: San Andreas fault system in California

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5
Q

Folding

A

Compression forces exerting pressure wherein the rock structure is bent and/or deformed
Is the result of a crustal movement (plate tectonics)

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6
Q

Anticline Folding

A

Upfolded rock layer

Ridge , arch

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7
Q

Syncline Folding

A

A down-folded rock layer

Valley or basin

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8
Q

Faulting

A

Rock layers are sustained and eventually fracture/break

One side of the rock layer is displaced relative to the other

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9
Q

Normal Fault

A

Vertical movement along an inclined plain
Overlying block is the hanging wall
Foundation block is the “Footwall”

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10
Q

Reverse Fault

A

Associated w/ converging plates

Produces hanging wall that moves upward

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11
Q

Thrust Fault

A

A type of reverse fault that is Much more significant vertical movement, More energy behind it, and a Higher risk for seismic activity

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12
Q

Strike Slip Fault

A

Transcurrent fault
Lateral movement along the transform boundary
San Andreas encompasses strike slip faults

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13
Q

Horst Landforms

A

Land between faults that is higher than the surrounding land. For example, the Sinai Peninsula.

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14
Q

Graben Landforms

A

Land between the faults that is lower than the surrounding land. For example, Death Valley.

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15
Q

Pacific Ring of Fire

A

Plate collisions in the PACIFIC RIM (which is comprised of North America and Asia) are responsible for a MAJORITY of seismic and volcanic activity on Earth

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16
Q

Cinder Cone Volcano

A

Cone shaped hill
Smallest type (these are not the famous giants of history)
Mostly pyroclastics (cinder, rock fragments, ash)
Not a lot of lava

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17
Q

Shield Volcano

A

Very gentle lava flows, Not a lot of ash, Very common in Hawaii, Lava flows form different kinds of cool rocks, Eruptions are not usually explosive unless water gets in vent, A lot of magma, Few pyroclastics

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18
Q

Composite Cone Volcano

A

Stratovolcano, Largest percentage of volcanoes fall into this category, Created by Subduction, High amounts of lava, ash, pyroclastics, Your classic scary apocalyptic volcano, “Giants of history”

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19
Q

Plug Lava Dome

A

Steep sides, Vent is repeatedly jammed, Immense pressure is created due to the blockage, Produce very cataclysmic eruptions, Kind of a subcategory of composite but differentiated by its steep sides and jammed vents!!!

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20
Q

Uniformitarianism

A

Earth has come to its present form through physical processes that have been constant and active in the environment throughout all of geologic time

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21
Q

Catastrophism

A

Earth has come to its present form as a result of large, sudden events

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22
Q

Plate Tectonics

A

Lithosphere is made up of a series of great and lesser plates that float over the asthenosphere, Continental drift is a consistent consequence of plate tectonics, Boundaries produce a majority of mountain ranges, volcanic eruptions, earthquake epicenters

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23
Q

Weathering

A

Weathering encompasses several processes involved in the disintegration and/or decomposition of rock material

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24
Q

Denudation (Weathering)

A

The process of reduction or rearrangement of landforms

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25
Aggradation
Process of building up by accumulation of depositional material
26
Erosion
Wearing away or removal of a rock by an agent (e.g, running water, wind, ice)
27
Transport
Physical movement of rock debris
28
Deposition
The dropping/depositing of rock debris in a new location
29
Physical Weathering
Rock is broken and disintegrated w/o any chemical alteration or change
30
Frost Wedging (Physical Weathering)
Freeze-thaw action, Liquid water gets into cracks of rock and expands as it freezes, Rock cracks/fractures and breaks into pieces
31
Salt Crystal Growth (Physical Weathering)
Arid, semi-arid climates, Ground water is drawn to the surface of rock and evaporates , Mineral crystals that develop from dissolved minerals-- Salt Crystals, Crystals grow into larger collections, Rock is cracked/fractured as crystals continue to grow
32
Chemical Weathering
Involves the actual decomposition and decay of the constituent minerals in the rock, Due to chemical change in minerals in the presence of water
33
Hydrolosis (Chemical Weathering)
Minerals (silicates, carbonates) chemically combine with water, One fragment of parent molecule combines with hydrogen and another with hydroxyl, Decomposition process: Chemical reactions produce different compounds/minerals Acid/base salts combine w water Acid Rain reacts w/ rock-forming minerals-- produces clay and salts that are removed in solution
34
Oxidation
Gain of oxygen to a substance (particularly a metallic compound) Oxides are physically weaker than original material, more susceptible to weathering Iron and rusting Accelerated by moisture and heat Occurs above the water table
35
Reduction
Loss of oxygen from a substance (particularly a metallic compound) Common where rock is totally submerged by still water Occurs below the water table Chemical reaction removes the oxygen but mineral may be altered again later if water circulation makes additional oxygen available
36
Solution
Minerals are actually dissolved in water Minerals have low solubility in pure water. Rain contains carbonic acid limestone/marble Large feature of glacial weathering. Colder water can hold more dissolved carbon dioxide.
37
Permanent Stream Flow
Lasts all year long | Valley floor is lower than the lowest groundwater level
38
Intermittent Stream Flow
Seasonal stream | Valley floor is lower than the lowest groundwater level for part of the year
39
Ephemeral Stream Flow
Exists only after precipitation falls | No relationship with the groundwater level
40
Exotic Stream Flow
Crosses a desert | Examples: The Nile and Colorado Rivers
41
Dioric Stream Flow (Pluse 2 Types)
Crosses a mountain Antecedent Dioric -Stream is there first, mountain arises around it Superimposed -Streamflow works away/carves itself into mountain
42
Denditic Stream Type
Root-like shape Evenly resistant rock Gentle slopes
43
Parallel Stream Type
Steep slopes
44
Trellis Stream Type
Folded
45
Rectangular Stream Type
Faulted
46
Radial Stream Type
Domed surface
47
Centripetal Stream Type
Converges at basin
48
Derranged Stream Type
No geometric pattern associated
49
Tributary
A stream that feeds a larger stream or lake | A supplemental water source
50
How do Stream Orders Work?
First Order: No tributaries Second Order Stream: Receives at least two first order streams Third Order Stream: Receives at least two second order streams
51
Glacial Geography
Glaciers act as an agent of erosion Glaciers create a U-Shaped valley Rivers create V Shaped Valley
52
Alpine Glacier
Mountain source, Rugged scenery, Jagged rock, Stone and ice, Rockies, Alps, Andes, Himalayas
53
Continental Glacier
Ice Sheets, Thick mass of ice covering large portion of continent, Greenland, Antarctica
54
When Ice Carries Debris it...?
Deposits the debris somewhere else
55
Glacial Snow at higher elevations is...?
White in color
56
Glacial Snow at lower elevations is...?
Gray in color due to containing debris
57
Terminus
End of glacier. | Gray snow.
58
Crevasses
Vertical cracks in glaciers | Result of friction or tension from extension/compression
59
Transverse Crevasse
Most common, forms across the glacier
60
Splashing Crevasses
Form on the sides of glaciers
61
Longitudinal Crevassses
Form parallel to flow where expanding, Snow-covered, Fairly common in Antarctica Dangerous
62
Lateral Moraines
Formed from accumulation of material on either side of the valley Deposited on top of glacier. Does not experience post-glacial erosion Freeze-thaw Usually preserved as ridges along the valley side
63
Medial Moraines
Junction of lateral moraines where glaciers meet | Ridge is along center of the valley
64
End Moraines
Formed when glacier pauses after reaching equilibrium | Size and shape determined by whether or not glacier is advancing or receding
65
Recessional Moraines
Deposits are formed while glacier is stationary during retreat phase, Higher elevations, Terminal, Debris is dropped at glaciers farthest extent, Represents the farthest advance of the glacier, Conveyer belt Lowest elevation
66
Ground Moraines
Till (collection of rock/dirt/mud/debris) spreads across the land surface Hides the former landscape Between lateral moraines Unsorted debris May be modified into other landforms by overriding ice
67
Drumlin (Glacial landform)
Glacial debris that is streamlined/smoothed by the passage of ice Streamlining reflects the erosional and depositional processes One end of the hill is steeper than the other, tapers down to ground level Tear drop shaped Common in great lakes region Aligned, parallel, clustered together
68
Alternative Drumlin Form Theory
Catastrophic flooding of high pressure water flowing beneath ice sheet
69
Erratic (Glacial Landform)
Very large rock boulders carried to its present location by a glacier Rock type is different than the rock type of the local area Marks the path of glacial movement Ice rafting
70
Esker (Glacial Landform)
Forming through meltwater deposits flowing beneath the surface of the glacier Gravel ridge Parallel to overall ice flow
71
Kame (Glacial Landform)
Stagnant ice topography Deposits from glacial meltwater when glacier is stagnant and not moving Irregular shape accumulates in depression within the glacier More sediment deposited on top of other debris
72
What is the difference between a Kame and a Drumlin
A kame is deposited by meltwater and a Drumlin is deposited by ice.
73
Kettle (Glacial Landform)
Depression resulting from melting of buried ice “Kame and Kettle Topography” Can fill with water and become KETTLE LAKES!!
74
When were Ice Sheet Land Forms formed
During the last ice age
75
Cirque (Alpine Landform)
Hollowed out amphitheater-like Cliffs shelter it from heat, encouraging accumulation of snow and ice Frost wedging can affect/increase the size
76
Arete (Alpine Landform)
Thin ridge separating two valleys parallel erosion from the two glaciers Can also form from two cirques eroding headward toward each other
77
Col (Alpine Landform)
Two opposing glaciers meeting at Arete | Carves a gap or a pass
78
Horn
Pyramidal peak | Created by erosion of multiple glaciers converging on a central point
79
Human Causes of Desertification
Firewood Collection Overgrazing Intensive Agriculture or Cultivation
80
Erg Desert
Classic sea of sand | Not very Common
81
Desert Pavement
Rocky and stony landscape | Common
82
Hamad
Barren/exposed surface, bedrock
83
West Coast Deserts
A rain-shadow forms on the leeward side of a mountain range...the normal rain-shadow grows and turns into a desert.
84
Examples of West Coast Deserts
Mojave Desert in North America: 34° North Atacam in South America: 23° South Great Sandy in Australia: 20° South
85
Fluvial Erosion
running water
86
Aeolian Erosion
wind
87
Glacial Erosion
moving ice
88
Solution Erosion
ground water
89
Diastrophism
The folding and faulting of earth's crust
90
Volcanism
Surface discharge of molten rock
91
Extrusive Volcanism
Volcanic Eruption
92
Intrusive Volcanism
only a small fraction of magma reaches the surface. Creates Batholiths Dykes Sills
93
External Geomorphic Processes
Weathering Erosion Mass Wasting
94
Internal Geomorphic Processes
Crustal rearrangements (plate tectonics) Volcanism Diastrophism
95
Mass Wasting
the geomorphic process by which soil, sand, regolith, and rock move downslope typically as a mass, largely under the force of gravity, but frequently affected by water and water content as in submarine environments and mudflows
96
Plate Tectonics
Lithosphere is made up of a series of great and lesser plates that float over the asthenosphere Continental drift is a consistent consequence of plate tectonics Boundaries produce a majority of mountain ranges, volcanic eruptions, earthquake epicenters
97
Snider-Pelligrini 1958
Produces a map of South Africa's eastern coastline fitted against Africa’s coastline, Cited close similarity in fossil plant types in coal bearing rocks in Europe and North America
98
Wegener 1912
Pangea- Supercontinent theory Less dense layer of continental rock moving like a raft through a sea of more dense ocean rock American Geologists rebuke Violation of laws of physics because two strong rigid rock layers could not behave in this manner (one embedded in the other)
99
50s-60s in Plate Tectonics
Polar wandering- Helped explain continental drift | Plate tectonics develops for continental drift (theory)
100
Aeolian Deflation
Removing and lifting of individual loose particles
101
Aeolian Abrasian
The grinding of rock surfaces w/ a sandblasting action by the captured particles in air
102
Base Level
Lowest elevation of surrounding area that a river valley can be eroded down to
103
The Seven Categories of River Valley Assesment
Stream Gradient: Slope, degree of inclination of channel? Tributaries: How prevalent they are? Dominant Surface: Elevation of Surrounding land? Draining Quality: How well the surrounding land drains away excess water? Lakes/Swamps: How prevalent are they? Waterfalls: How prevalent are they? Profile: Just a cross section of the channel
104
Carbonation
limestone/marble | Large feature of glacial weathering. Colder water can hold more dissolved carbon dioxide.
105
Ferromagnesian Silicate
Green or dark, sometimes crystals
106
Nonferromagnesian Silicate
Colorless or white, translucent, cleavage
107
Oxide
Red, silver or black or blue
108
Sulfide
Brassy
109
Carbonate
White or colorless
110
Halide
Table salt or flouridic
111
Native Elements
Gold, Silver

Intro to Physical Environment (1 decks)

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