Landforms and Landscapes Flashcards
Only Landform and Landscapes questions (34 cards)
What is a Landscape?
A part of Earth’s surface, categorized into natural and human landscapes.
Landscapes refer to the overall appearance of land.
Define Landforms.
Natural features or shapes on Earth’s surface, shaped by geological forces.
Examples include mountains, valleys, and plateaus.
What are Tectonic Plates?
Large moving pieces that make up Earth’s outer layer, the crust.
This theory explains the movement of the Earth’s crust.
What is Weathering?
The process of wearing away or changing the appearance of rock by geological forces.
It can be caused by factors such as wind, water, and temperature changes.
Define Erosion.
The removal of soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location and its transport to another.
Erosion can significantly reshape landscapes over time.
What is Deposition?
The process of placing or depositing eroded materials.
It often occurs in bodies of water or at the base of slopes.
What is the Lithosphere?
The Earth’s crust.
It is the rigid outer layer of the Earth.
Define Aesthetic.
The appreciation of beauty.
It often relates to landscape and environmental design.
What is an Earthquake?
A sudden violent shaking of the ground caused by the movement of tectonic plates.
Earthquakes can lead to significant destruction.
What characterizes a Mountain?
Landforms greater than 600m created by tectonic activity.
Types include volcanic, fold, and block mountains.
What is a Tsunami?
A long high wave caused by tectonic plates and underwater earthquakes.
Tsunamis can travel across entire ocean basins.
Define Plateau.
A raised flat surface, bounded on one or more sides by cliffs or steep slopes.
Plateaus can be formed by volcanic activity or erosion.
What are Fold Mountains?
Mountains formed when tectonic plates collide and create uplift.
They are typically characterized by their complex structure.
What are Block Mountains?
Mountains formed by tectonic plates colliding and pressing on natural faults through faulting.
They often have steep sides and flat tops.
What are Volcanic Mountains?
Mountains formed when magma rises to the surface of the crust.
Mount St. Helens is an example of a volcanic mountain.
What is a Coastal Landscape?
Where a land mass meets the ocean.
Coastal landscapes include diverse landforms such as cliffs and beaches.
How are Cliffs formed?
When rain weakens the top of a rock and waves hit the side, changing the shape of the land.
Cliffs are often steep and dramatic.
What is a Wave-cut Notch?
A dent made in a cliff when waves hit a weak spot constantly.
This process is part of coastal erosion.
Define Wave-cut Platform.
A flat area created when rock above a wave-cut notch becomes too heavy and breaks off.
It smooths out the base of a cliff.
What is a Cave?
A hollow formed at weak spots in a rock after weathering and erosion.
Caves can be formed by the action of water.
What is an Arch/Hollow Cave?
A cave that grows larger until it opens up on the other side.
These formations can eventually collapse to form stacks.
Define Stack.
The remaining rock after an arch collapses.
Stacks are often isolated and can be seen off coasts.
What is a Headland?
The part of the remaining rock that connects to the mainland after an arch collapses.
Headlands are often prominent features along coastlines.
What is a Spit?
A long extra bit of beach created by wind and deposition.
Spits can extend into water bodies.
