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Geomorphology Flashcards

(72 cards)

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1
Q

Geomorphology

A

The study of the origin of landforms based on cause and effect relationships

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2
Q

Form

A

Study of landforms, from which we can infer they evolutionary process

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3
Q

Process

A

The study of currently operating geomorphic processes from which we can infer their influence on the landforms

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4
Q

Inductive reasoning

A

Form —> process

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5
Q

Deductive reasoning

A

Process —> form

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6
Q

2 ways of geomorphology

A

By the approach taken to its study

Not done

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7
Q

Descriptive geomorphology

A

Observations and measurement of landforms

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8
Q

Dynamic geomorphology

A

Observation and measurement of currently operating earth surface process es

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9
Q

Historical geomorphology

A

Interpretation of relict landforms and deposits in order to understand past processes

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10
Q

Relict landforms

A

No longer dipositting

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11
Q

Reginal morphology

A

Study of landforms and process operating in a specific region of earth, often related to climatic regions of earth

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12
Q

Reginal morphology is also known as

A

Climatic geomorphology

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13
Q

Fluvial geomorphology

A

Rubbing water

Streams, rivers

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14
Q

Hill slope geomorphology

A

Gravity and water

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15
Q

Costal geomorphology

A

Agents: waved and currents

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16
Q

Glacial geomorphology

A

Agents: glacier ice

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17
Q

Pariglacial geomorphology

A

Agents: ground ice

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18
Q

Aoeolian geomorphology

A

Agents: wind

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19
Q

Extreme _______________ must pass for ________ processes to take place

A

Amounts of time

Geomorphic

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20
Q

(Neo) catastorphism

A

Geomorphic work taking place in short time

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21
Q

Rock weathering

A

The break down of rock, first step in denudation,

Provides material nessecary for debris cascade

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22
Q

What exactly is weathering

A

The breakdown or decay of rock on surface

Where a thing layer of regolith is created and stays in place

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23
Q

Regolith

A

Later if loose, broken and sometimes chemically altered rock on top of a bed of rock

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24
Q

Rock composition (2 points)

A

Rocks that cool more rapidly (extrusive) are more susceptible to weathering

Minerals which crytalise at high temps are more suacceptable to weathering

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25
Rock structure (2 points)
Determines pathways of water and dissolved substances Determines the surface that is exposed to weathering
26
Tors
Weather rock into spheres
27
Rock texture
Size of minerals and grains and crystals. Rock composed of smaller grains generally weather faster
28
Availability of heat (2 points)
Temperate fluctuates (expanding and contracting) weakens rock High temps speed up chemical weathering
29
Availability of water and dissolved substances (4 ways)
When water freezes, it expands Growth of salt crystals from salt water expands Dissolved substances in water can enhance waters ability to break down Water carried away the products of chemical weathering process
30
Slope orientation
Affects weathering by controlling a slopes exposure to sun, precipitation and wind
31
Vegetation (2 ways)
Organic acids from decaying vegetation promotes chemical weathering Mechanical stress exerted by roots growing in cracks can force rocks apart
32
Subsurface water
The position of water on top of ground water in relation to the ground surface, and the movement of ground water play an important role
33
Two broad classes of weathering mechanisms
Mechanical weathering and chemical weathering
34
Mechanical weathering
Rock is broken apart by physical stresses being implied, no chemical alteration
35
4 types of mechanical weathering
Freeze thaw weathering Salt weathering Exfoliation Biological weathering
36
Freeze thaw weathering
“Frost wedging” Freezing and melting causes mechanical stress 9%
37
Joint block separation
Results of free style weathering, rock breaks into blocks
38
Salt weathering
Evaporation of salty water forms salt crystals which create mechanical stress as they grow
39
Exfoliation
Rocks slips off in sheets instead of breaking up
40
Biological weathering
Growth of tree roots in a crack. Expands rocks making other weathering occur inside
41
Chemical weathering
Rock breaks due to chemical alteration. No physical
42
Ions
From the rocks minerals are removed by water Dissolved in water renter rock and combine with minerals Exchanged between rock and water
43
4 types of chemical weathering
Hydration Hydrolysis Oxidation Dissolution and carbonation
44
Hydration
Water is absorbed by rocks minerals to cause a change in the minerals structure and swelling Results in spherical weathering
45
Hydrolysis
Breakdown of silicate minerals in rock by water and dissolved substances Most common type
46
Oxidation
Oxygen reacts with certain metallic elements Rusting of iron
47
Dissolution and carbonation
Weathering of rock by dissolving it’s mineral constituents by water In easy terms: breakdown of rock by certain minerals dissolving
48
Carbonation
The dissolution specifically calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium by water
49
Karst landscapes
when entire landscapes of limestone or dollmite are exposed to carbonation
50
Soil is composed of
50% minerals and organic matter 50% air and water
51
5 primary natural soil forming factors
Parent material Climate Organisms Topography Relief Time
52
Soil profile
Vertical section of soil that goes form surface to deepest section
53
Pedon
Smallest unit of soil
54
Soil horizons
Different layers of soil O, A, B, C
55
Humus
Mixture of decomposed and synthesized organic material
56
Eluviation
Removing fine particles and minerals by water
57
Soil fertility
Ability for soil to sustain plants
58
Loam
Common designation for the balenced mixture of sand, slit, and clay
59
Soil porosity
Available air spaces within a material
60
For a karst landscape to form:
Limestone must contain 80% calcium carbonate Complex patterns of joints must be present An air containing zone mist exist Vegetation is needed
61
Sinkholes
Weathering by dissolution of limestone creates sinkholes
62
Karst valley
Indents in land
63
Fluvial geomorphology
The energy of rivers
64
The drainage basin
Also known as watershed The drainage basin is the fundemental unit on earths surface that we employ to understand rivers and streams
65
Drainage basin
The area of earths surface inside which all water falling as precipitation eventually makes its way to a single river or stream
66
Discharge
Energy from rivers
67
Water balence equation
P=R+E+/-change in s
68
P=R+E+/-change in s
Precipitation = runoff + evaporation plus or minus the change in storage
69
______ varies at different time scales (either _____ or millienia)
Discharge Minutes
70
Individual storms
The shape of storm hydrograph is influenced by basin size as well as basin shape
71
Annual
Means one year The shape of annual hydrograph depends on climate
72
Freshet
Melting resulting in filling of streams

Geography (5 decks)

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