Geography: Landforms and Processes

Study Notes

Mountain Formation

Types of Mountain Building:
- Volcanic Arcs: formed when oceanic crust subducts beneath continental crust, resulting in volcanic activity
- Continental Collision: formed when two continental plates collide, resulting in folding and uplift
- Block Faulting: formed when large blocks of the Earth's crust are uplifted or down-dropped along faults
Mountain Building Processes:
- Folding: bending of the Earth's crust due to tectonic forces
- Faulting: breaking of the Earth's crust along faults
- Volcanic Activity: eruption of magma and lava

Plate Tectonics

Theory: the Earth's lithosphere is broken into large plates that move relative to each other
Types of Plate Boundaries:
- Divergent: plates moving apart, resulting in new crust formation
- Convergent: plates moving towards each other, resulting in subduction or collision
- Transform: plates sliding past each other horizontally
Plate Tectonics Processes:
- Seafloor Spreading: creation of new oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges
- Subduction: one plate is forced beneath another

Volcanic Landforms

Types of Volcanoes:
- Shield Volcanoes: gently sloping, broad volcanoes formed by lava flows
- Composite Volcanoes: tall, conical volcanoes formed by alternating layers of lava and ash
- Cinder Cones: small, steep-sided volcanoes formed by ash accumulation
Volcanic Features:
- Calderas: large depressions formed by volcanic collapse
- Lava Tubes: natural tunnels formed by lava flows

Coastal Features

Types of Coastlines:
- Submergent: coastlines formed by sea level rise or land subsidence
- Emergegent: coastlines formed by sea level fall or land uplift
Coastal Processes:
- Erosion: wear away of the coastline by waves and tides
- Deposition: accumulation of sediment along the coastline
Coastal Landforms:
- Headlands: rocky outcrops at the edge of the sea
- Bays: curved inlets of the sea

Desert Landscapes

Desert Formation:
- Aridity: low rainfall and high evaporation rates
- Wind Erosion: removal of sediment by wind
Desert Landforms:
- Dunes: ridges of sand formed by wind deposition
- Playas: dry lake beds formed by evaporation
- Badlands: areas of eroded sedimentary rock

Description

Test your knowledge of geography by identifying different types of landforms and understanding the processes that shape our planet. From mountain building to coastal features, this quiz covers a range of topics. Get ready to explore the world around you!