3 Questions
?
?
Study Notes
Plate Tectonics
- Theory that Earth's lithosphere (outer layer) is broken into large plates that move relative to each other
- Three types of plate movement:
- Divergent: plates move apart, new crust forms
- Convergent: plates collide, crust is destroyed or deformed
- Transform: plates slide past each other horizontally
- Processes that shape the Earth's surface:
- Continental drift: movement of continents
- Seafloor spreading: creation of new oceanic crust
Mountain Formation
- Three main types of mountain formation:
- Volcanic: formed by volcanic activity
- Fold: formed by plate convergence and folding
- Block: formed by faulting and uplift
- Mountain-building processes:
- Orogenesis: formation of mountains through plate collision
- Uplift: vertical movement of the Earth's surface
- Denudation: wear away of existing mountains
Volcanic Landforms
- Types of volcanic landforms:
- Shield volcanoes: gently sloping, broad volcanoes
- Stratovolcanoes: tall, conical volcanoes
- Calderas: large depressions formed by volcanic collapse
- Volcanic fields: areas of numerous small volcanoes
- Volcanic features:
- Volcanic cones: accumulation of lava and ash
- Lava flows: streams of molten rock
- Volcanic ash: small particles ejected during eruptions
Coastal Features
- Types of coastal landforms:
- Beaches: areas of sediment deposited along the coast
- Dunes: ridges of sand formed by wind
- Cliffs: steep slopes formed by erosion
- Headlands: rocky areas that project out to sea
- Coastal processes:
- Erosion: wear away of the coast by wind and water
- Deposition: accumulation of sediment along the coast
- Longshore drift: movement of sediment along the coast
Desert Landforms
- Types of desert landforms:
- Dunes: ridges of sand formed by wind
- Playas: dry lake beds
- Badlands: areas of eroded sedimentary rock
- Oases: areas of vegetation in the desert
- Desert processes:
- Deflation: removal of sediment by wind
- Desertification: expansion of desert areas due to climate change
- Eolian erosion: wear away of rocks by wind-borne sediment
Test your knowledge of different types of landforms, including plate tectonics, mountains, volcanoes, coastal features, and deserts. Learn about the processes that shape our planet's surface.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
