Geomorphology

Question 1

Types of horizontally layered landscapes

Answer 1

Hilly landscapes, basaltic plateaus, canyon landscapes and karoo landscapes

Question 2

Characteristics of Hilly Landscapes

Answer 2

Slopes are gentle and rounded, rainfall causes mass wasting, soil layers are thick and fine grained

Question 3

Characteristics of Basaltic Plateaus

Answer 3

Caused by built up of lava flowing through long narrow cracks in the ground.

Question 4

Characteristics of Canyon Landscapes

Answer 4

Layers erode at different rates, Resistant rocks form steep cliffs and less resistant rocks from more gentle slopes

Question 5

Characteristics of Karoo Landscapes

Answer 5

Plateaus are protected by dolerite.

Question 6

What is a scarp retreat

Answer 6

Known as back wasting where lateral erosion occurs

Question 7

Types of hills

Answer 7

Mesa, butte, conical hill

Question 8

2 types of buttes

Answer 8

Teebus and koffiebus

Question 9

What are inclined layered rocks

Answer 9

Inclined strata are layers of rocks below the earth’s surface which dip or tilt at an angle

Question 10

Example of inclined strata

Answer 10

Homoclinal ridges

Question 11

Types of slopes of Homoclinal ridge

Answer 11

Dip slope and Scarp slope

Question 12

How are homoclinal ridges classified

Answer 12

cuestas (layers dip at 10 to 25 degrees)
Homoclinal ridges ( 25 to 45 degrees)
Hogsback ridges ( DIp slope is very steep)

Question 13

Intrusive bodies associated with massive igneous rocks

Answer 13

Batholith, Laccolith, Lopolith, Dyke , Sill

Question 14

What are tors?

Answer 14

Heap of partially rounded boulders called core stones.

Question 15

What is mass movement?

Answer 15

Mass movement is the movement of weathered materials down a slope.

Question 16

What influences the speed of mass wasting

Answer 16

Gradient of slope, weight of the debris, presence of water

Question 17

Types of mass movement

Answer 17

Soil creep, solifluction, landslides, rock falls, mud flows, slumps

Question 18

Impacts of Mass Movement

Answer 18

Causes Natural erosion, landslide may block a river, can cause great destruction to vegetation and animal life, landslide may cause floods by damming up bodies of water

Question 19

Effects of Mass Movement on people

Answer 19

Slow movement of creep causes long term economic damage, expenses related to landslides, landslides cause loss of productivity of agricultural lands, interruption of transportation systems

Question 20

How can effects of mass movement be minimized?

Answer 20

Elimination and restriction of activities on slopes, plant natural vegetation on slopes, engineering techniques to prevent landslides, safety nets to stop rock falls, retaining walls, reduce deforestation, fasten unstable rocks with rock bolts