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GEOG exam 3 Flashcards

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1
Q

Mass Movement: Mountains

A

Erodes mountains into smaller landforms
- Younger Mountains: jagged and rough (more rapid landslides)
-Older Mountains: smoothed and rounded (more slower landslides)

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2
Q

Landslide Triggers: #4: Vibrations

A

-Earthquakes
-Human Activity
-Volcanic Erruptions

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3
Q

Landslides Triggers #3:

A
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4
Q

Landslide Triggers #2:

A
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5
Q

Landslide Triggers #1:

A
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6
Q

Deformation

A

the action or process of changing in shape or distorting, especially through the application of pressure.

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7
Q

Differential stress:

A

different amounts of pressure/force from different directions

*Leads to crustal deformation (change on shape or position of rocks due to stress)
*Causes: plate tectonics, magma intruding into rock, heavy glacier melting (crust sinking & later rebounding)

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8
Q

Types of Differential stress:

A
  1. Compressional
  2. Tensional
  3. Shear
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9
Q

Compressional Stress:

A

Squeezes a rock
associated with convergent plate boundaries

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10
Q

Tensional Stress:

A

Pulls the rock apart/stretches the rock
*associated with divergent plate boundaries

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11
Q

Shear Stress:

A

Forces are parallel but moving in opposite directions
*Associated with transform plate boundaries
*can cause masses of rock to slip

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12
Q

Types of Deformation:

A
  1. Brittle
  2. Elastic
  3. Ductile
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13
Q

Brittle Deformation:

A

rock breaks (joints or faults)

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14
Q

Ductile Deformation:

A

rock bends/folds/warps
*permanent change

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15
Q

Elastic Deformation:

A

rock temporarily stretched (returns to its original position if stress is later released)

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16
Q

Structures Formed by Ductile Deformation:

A

Folds
Domes

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17
Q

Folds:

A

A series of wavy undulations (zig-zags)
-compressional stress
-lateral (side to side) shortening and vertical (up and down) thickening of the crust

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18
Q

Types of folds: Anticline

A

An anticline is a structural trap created through the folding of rock strata into an arch-like shape. The rock deposits in an anticlinal trap were formerly located down horizontally and then Earth movement created it to fold into an arch-like shape termed as an anticline.

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19
Q

Types of folds: Syncline

A

Downfolded or troughed strata

*The youngest rock pushed downwards towards the center
*Eroded sentiments may build up at the top

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20
Q

Symmetrical Fold

A

The limbs of a symetrical fols

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21
Q

Asymmetrical Fold

A

a geological structure where the two limbs of a fold (the curved surfaces of the rock layers) dip (slope) at different angles on either side of the axial plane (the line of maximum compression or elongation). This means one limb is steeper than the other, resulting in a tilted or overturned appearance.

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22
Q

Overturned Fold:

A

a type of fold in geology where one limb of the fold is tilted beyond vertical, meaning the rock layers on that limb are “upside down” compared to their original orientation.

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23
Q

Domes:

A

Unwarping of buried igneous and metamorphic rock deforms overlying sedimentary strata

*Causes: plate tectonics, formation of laccoliths
*Circular or elongated bulge
*Oldest rock in the center

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24
Q

Natural Hazard

A

A natural disaster that specifically impacts people.

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25
Seismic wave:
Elastic wave of energy caused by earthquakes. -Rock settles in original shape (with displacement) -Radiate outward from the hypocenter/focus
26
Types of seismic waves: Surface
Surface (also called L or long), travel along Earth's surface Two types: 1. Love: travels through solids 2. Rayleigh: travels through solids *greater destruction *higher aptitude *wider periods *slower velocity
27
Rayleigh waves:
Wave motion (like a laundry machine). This type of surface wave travels along the Earth's surface to similar rolling ocean waves.
28
Love waves:
A second type of surface wave moves the ground from side to side, and can be particularly damaging to building foundations.
29
Types of seismic waves: Body
Body: travel through Earth's interior Two Types: 1. Primary (p-wave) : travels through solids, liquids and gasses. 2. Secondary (s- waves) : travels through solids. *Less destructive *Lower amplitude *Narrower periods *Faster velocity
30
Intensity scale:
Ranked based on the amount of damage -Drawback: rural vs. urban impact (energy is the same, situations and impacts are different), subjectivity of what "major damage" means, accessibility to earthquake-proof resources for housing, and protection.
31
Magnitude scale
Ranked based on the amount of energy released at the focus/hypocenter
32
Mercalli Intensity Scale
A scale explaining the intensity of earthquakes and movements, scale from 1-12
33
Earthquake Destruction Factors:
Factors involved: 1. Vibration strength 2. Earthquake duration 3. Nature of materials under structures 4. Designs of structures
34
Liquefaction
Saturated soil loses its strength and stiffness, behaving like a fluid during an earthquake or other seismic event. This process, often described as "quicksand" in the context of earthquakes, can lead to significant damage to buildings, infrastructure, and land.
35
Foreshock
The earthquakes that happen before the larger one.
36
Aftershock
Earthquakes that follow a bigger earthquake, strong, but not as big as the main event.
37
Glacier
Natural body of ice formed on land that persists year-to-year *Thick enough to flow in response to gravity *Ice forms form recrystallization of snow
38
Types of Glaciers
1. Ice sheet/Continental 2. Valley/Alpine/Mountain 3. 4. 5.
39
Ice sheet/Continental
*Covers large part of the continent *Ice flows out from the center of the ice mass *Ex. Antarctica and Greenland
40
Ice Shelf
Part of the glacier that has flowed to the end of the landmass and is floating over water. *Still attached to part of glacier that's on land *Act like brake that slows glacial flow
41
Grounded Glacier
Touches land at the base
42
Iceberg
Chunks of ice that calve (break off) of ice shelf.
43
Dropstone
Rocks/Sediments are dragged along the bottom of a glacier until falling to the seafloor.
44
Sea Ice
Ocean water that freezes (not glacial).
45
Valley/ Alpine/ Mountain
*An ice stream that flows down mountains into valleys *Examples in: Himalayas, Alps, Rockies, Andes, many other mountain chains
46
Arête
Steep ridge separating two glaciers
47
Horn
Peak carved from glacial erosion on at least 3 sides.
48
Cirque
Depression with steep sides formed where the glacier started to grow and flow downhill.
49
Glacial trough
Valley left behind when glacier melts that often contains a stream.
50
Tarn
A lake formed in a cirque
51
Hanging valley
Drop-off between where top of glacier used to be to bottom of glacial trough revealed when glacier melts.
52
Pater Noster Lake
Series of lakes that from where glacier carved deeper spots and are often connected via streams.
53
Domes description
Characteristics: Broad, circular upward warp; oldest rocks in center. Diagram: Outward-dipping layers in all directions. Example: Black Hills, South Dakota.
54
Identifying Folds on Diagrams:
Anticlines look like an “A,” synclines like a “U.”
55
Basin Description
Characteristics: Broad, circular downward depression; youngest rocks in center. Diagram: Inward-dipping layers. Example: Michigan Basin.
56
Where Most Earthquakes Occur:
Characteristic: Along tectonic plate boundaries (seen on USGS map).
57
Destruction Factors:
- Most destructive: Surface waves. - Fastest waves: P-waves. - Most damaging depth: Shallow-focus earthquakes.
58
Tsunami (2011 Japan):
Caused by megathrust fault (subduction zone) displacing seafloor.
59
Intensity vs. Magnitude:
Intensity Scale: Measures effects/damage (e.g., Modified Mercalli); subjective. Magnitude Scale: Measures energy released (e.g., Richter or Moment Magnitude); objective. Drawback of Intensity Scale: Varies by population, building types, distance.
60
Eastern vs. Western U.S. Earthquakes:
Eastern U.S. has older, denser, more continuous rocks — transmit seismic waves farther.
61
Structural Damage Factors:
Magnitude Distance to focus Building materials/construction Ground type (bedrock vs. sediment)
62
Foreshock vs. Aftershock:
Foreshock: Smaller quake before main event. Aftershock: Smaller quake after main event.
63
Landslide
Movement of rock/soil downslope under gravity.
64
Young vs. Old Mountains & Landslides:
Younger: Steep, rugged, more landslides. Older: Rounded, less active mass movement.
65
Appalachians vs. Rockies Age? :
Appalachians: Older. Rockies: Younger.
66
Mass Movement Triggers (4):
Water saturation Over-steepening Removal of vegetation Earthquakes
67
Saturation of Sediments & Landslides:
Increases weight and reduces cohesion = more landslides.
68
Angle of Repose:
The steepest angle sediment can hold without sliding.
69
Vegetation:
Roots stabilize soil, absorb water → reduces risk.
70
Landslide Parts:
Scarp: Steep top edge. Toe: Piled debris at base. Slide Surface: Boundary the material slides on.
71
Calving
Ice chunks break off glacier into ocean/lake.
72
Valley/Alpine Glacier:
Forms in mountains. Today: Alps, Rockies, Andes, Himalayas.
73
River vs. Glacier Valley Shape:
River: V-shaped. Glacier: U-shaped.
74
Glacial Trough:
U-shaped valley.
75
Hanging Valley:
Tributary valley above glacial trough.
76
Rate of Erosion
Steeper slope = faster glacier = more erosion.
77
Moraines:
a mass of rocks and sediment carried down and deposited by a glacier, typically as ridges at its edges or extremity. Lateral: Along sides. Medial: Between merging glaciers. Terminal: Furthest extent. Ground: Beneath glacier.
78
Drift/Till:
Drift: All glacial sediments. Till: Unsorted, directly from glacier.
79
Intraplate vs. Interplate Quakes: LAB
Intraplate: Within a plate (e.g., New Madrid). Interplate: At plate boundaries.
80
Joint vs. Fault:
Joint: Crack, no movement. Fault: Crack with movement.
81
Footwall & Hanging Wall:
Hanging wall above fault; footwall below.
82
Horst v. Grabben- similarities
Horst: Raised block. Graben: Lowered block. Related: Stretching in extensional environments.
83
Fault Types:
Left-lateral & right-lateral (strike-slip) = horizontal motion.
84
Esker:
Teardrop-shaped hill; shows glacier direction.
85
Kettle Lake:
Sinuous ridge from stream under glacier.
86
Outwash Plain:
Channels split and rejoin.
87
Outwash Stream:
Ice-block depression filled with water.
88
Kame:
Meltwater stream.
89
Braided River:
Hill of sediment from meltwater.
90
Grounded Glacier:
Base touches land/bedrock.

geology (4 decks)

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