Landforms and Landscapes Study Guide

Weathering
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What is the difference between chemical and mechanical weathering? Mechanical/Physical weathering is
the process that occurs when physical forces break rock into smaller pieces without changing the rocks
chemical composition. Chemical weathering is when the rocks chemical composition is changed.
Describe each of the following types of weathering:
a. Unloading: The removal of weight/pressure (through erosion or other methods) allows underlying
rock to expand upward
b. Exfoliation: Exfoliation is the process in which rocks weather by peeling off in sheets rather than
eroding grain by grain.
c. Frost wedging: weathering processes involves the constant freezing and thawing of water
d. Spheroidal weathering: The gradual rounding of the corners and edges of angular blocks of rock
e. Biological activity: plant roots or microorganisms produce organic acids which help to dissolve
minerals.
f. Differential weathering: different compositions/types of rock wear away at different rates
What factors affect weathering?
Climate
Chemical composition of the exposed rock
Surface area of the exposed rock

Erosion
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What is the single most important erosional agent on Earth? Running Water

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What are the components of soil? Air, water, humus, mineral matter
What factor has the greatest effect on soil formation? Climate
What determines soil texture? Particle size
Give the compositions for points A, B, and C
A: clay: 60 percent; silt: 20 percent; sand: 20 percent
B: clay: 20 percent; silt: 40 percent; sand: 40 percent
C: clay: 10 percent; silt: 20 percent; sand: 70 percent

Soil

Mass Wasting
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Why can the removal of vegetation trigger mass movements? The plant roots bind the soil and regolith
together. The removal of plant roots leaves the soil loose and susceptible to gravity.
What is the force behind mass movements? Gravity
Describe each of the following mass movements:
a. Slump: When a block of material moves downslope along a curved surface
b. Rockfall: the falling of a newly detached mass of rock from a cliff or down a very steep slope.
c. Rockslide: landslide caused by rock failure
d. Earthflow: soil saturated with water falls downslope
e. Creep: Slowest type of mass movement (too slow to see)

Glaciers
1. What is a glacier? A thick ice mass that forms over the land from the accumulation, compaction, and
recrystallization of snow
2. Where do glaciers form? in areas where more snow falls than melts
3. Describe the two types of glaciers. Ice Sheet/Continental Glacier are the largest type and they flow in all
directions. Valley glaciers are smaller and they usually flow down valleys.
4. What percent of the Earth is covered by glaciers? 10%
5. Define the following terms:
a. Plucking: The loosening and lifting of blocks of rock by glaciers
b. Abrasion: mechanical scraping of a rock surface by friction between rocks and moving particles
c. Till: Material deposited directly by a glacier
d. Calving: When icebergs are produced by large pieces of ice breaking off from the front of a
glacier
e. Cirque: A bowl-shaped depression at the head of a glacial valley
f. Glacial trough: long u-shaped valleys created by glaciers
g. Horn: sharp edged peak; pyramid shaped
h. Arte: glacial ridges

Deserts
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What force causes most of the erosion in desert areas? Running Water
What is the main type of weathering in deserts? Physical/Mechanical Weathering
Define the following terms:
a. Ephemeral Stream: streams that run only after it rains
b. Playa: Dry, flat lake beds located in the center of basins in arid areas
c. Alluvial Fan: A cone of debris deposited by running water at the mouth of a canyon in an arid area
d. Desert Pavement: closely packed rocks and pebbles caused by deflation (removal of small/loose
particles)
e. Abrasion: changes the desert surface by cutting and polishing exposed rock surfaces

Mountain Building
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What is orogenesis? general term for the processes that produce mountains
How are mountain classified? by the dominant processes that formed them
What are the types of mountains? folded, fault-block, volcanic