Midterm review Flashcards
(49 cards)
Exogenic Vs. Endogenic
Exogenic: Outside processes - Processes that occur on the earth’s surface - generally reducing relief Eg) Erosion
Endogenic: Inside - Processes that occur in the earth’s interior - creates relief by elevating mountains
Geosphere
Rocks comprising the earths crust and global tectonic systems
Hydrosphere
Oceans, atmosphere, surface and subsurface water
Biosphere
living organisms apart of the ecosystems
Overview of a land form
1) Volcanic and tectonic processes (Endogenic) - Processes bring fresh rock to the surface and create primary land forms
2) Geomorphic processes (Exogenic) - Cause land denudation: Weathering and erosion
- Denudation of primary landforms produces secondary landforms
Fold Belts
Fold belts are formed due to the compression of flat sedimentary strata initiated by continental collision
Types of folds
- Symmetrical
- Asymmetrical
- Overturned
- Recumbent
What is a normal fault?
Vertical movement of crustal blocks along steep fault plane
Reverse fault?
One block riding up over the other , producing very steep fault scarps
Overthrust fault
One block rides up on top of the other along a reverse fault plane
Transcurrent Fault
Horizontal movement of crustal blocks along a nearly vertical plane
Define Weathering
Breakdown of rock and mineral material by physical and chemical means, without transportation
2 breakdowns: Physical and chemical
What are some factors that control the process of weathering?
Climate Orientation of slope Bedrock geology Vegetation cover Surface area
Define Physical weathering
Rock disintegration without chemical alteration
Some types of physical weathering
1) Frost action
2) Salt crystal growth
3) Unloading
4) Thermal expansion
5) Root growth
What is chemical weathering?
Breakdown of minerals and rocks as a result of chemical alteration
Types of chemical weathering
1) Hydration
2) Hydrolysis
3) Oxidation
4) Chelation
5) Solution and carbonation
What is the formation of soil called?
Pedogenesis
What are the types of soil forming processes?
1) enrichment (Gain)
2) Removal (loss)
3) Translocation
4) Transformation
What is the recurrence interval?
Reciprocal of the chance or probability that the event will occur in any year
- p = 1/RI
What are the precip generation mechanisms? (3)
1) Creation of saturated conditions
2) Condensation of water vapour into liquid water
3) Growth of small droplets by collision and coalescence until they become large enough to precipitate
Frontal system
A weather front is a boundary separating two masses of air of different densities, and is the principal cause of meteorological phenomena.
Cold front
- A cold air mass lifts a warm air mass aloft
- Upward motion sets off a line of thundertstorms
- Cold front approaching = high intensity
Warm front
- Warm air advances toward cold air and rises up and over the cold air
- Rain falls from the dense stratus cloud layers
- Warm front approaching = Low intensity
