HASS Geography Year 8: Landforms and Landscapes

Landforms and Landscapes

Plateau

• A plateau is a highland area of land that is relatively flat on top

Permafrost

• Permafrost is a type of soil or rock that remains frozen for two or more consecutive years
• It is found in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions

Glacier

• A glacier is a large, slow-moving river of ice and snow formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow
• Glaciers can be found in mountains and at the poles

Aquifer

• An aquifer is a layer of permeable rock or soil that stores and transmits significant amounts of water
• Aquifers are a source of freshwater for human consumption and agriculture

Erosion, Deposition, and Weathering

• Erosion is the process of wearing away or removal of rock and soil through natural forces like water, wind, or ice
• Deposition is the process of depositing eroded rock and soil in a new location
• Weathering is the breakdown of rock and soil through exposure to wind, water, and temperature fluctuations

Earth's Structure

• The mantle is the layer of hot, viscous rock between the Earth's crust and core
• Tectonic plates are large, rigid slabs of the Earth's crust that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle

Hotspots and Volcanic Activity

• A hotspot is a zone of volcanic activity that occurs when a tectonic plate moves over a fixed mantle plume
• This can lead to the formation of volcanic islands and mountain ranges

Earthquakes

• Subduction is the process of one tectonic plate being forced beneath another
• A fault is a fracture in the Earth's crust where rocks on either side have moved past each other
• Focus is the point within the Earth where an earthquake occurs
• Seismic waves are vibrations that travel through the Earth's crust, causing the ground to shake
• Epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake
• Primary waves (P-waves) are compressional waves that travel through the Earth's crust
• Secondary waves (S-waves) are shear waves that travel through the Earth's crust

Tsunamis

• A tsunami is a series of ocean waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, usually as a result of an earthquake
• A tsunami is not a singular wave, but rather a series of waves
• Tsunamis can be devastating for poorer countries due to lack of infrastructure, early warning systems, and emergency preparedness

Continental Slope

• A continental slope is the zone of abrupt depth change at the edge of a continent, where the continental shelf drops off into the deep ocean

Landforms and Landscapes

Plateau

• A plateau is a highland area of land that is relatively flat on top

Permafrost

• Permafrost is a type of soil or rock that remains frozen for two or more consecutive years
• It is found in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions

Glacier

• A glacier is a large, slow-moving river of ice and snow formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow
• Glaciers can be found in mountains and at the poles

Aquifer

• An aquifer is a layer of permeable rock or soil that stores and transmits significant amounts of water
• Aquifers are a source of freshwater for human consumption and agriculture

Erosion, Deposition, and Weathering

• Erosion is the process of wearing away or removal of rock and soil through natural forces like water, wind, or ice
• Deposition is the process of depositing eroded rock and soil in a new location
• Weathering is the breakdown of rock and soil through exposure to wind, water, and temperature fluctuations

Earth's Structure

• The mantle is the layer of hot, viscous rock between the Earth's crust and core
• Tectonic plates are large, rigid slabs of the Earth's crust that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle

Hotspots and Volcanic Activity

• A hotspot is a zone of volcanic activity that occurs when a tectonic plate moves over a fixed mantle plume
• This can lead to the formation of volcanic islands and mountain ranges

Earthquakes

• Subduction is the process of one tectonic plate being forced beneath another
• A fault is a fracture in the Earth's crust where rocks on either side have moved past each other
• Focus is the point within the Earth where an earthquake occurs
• Seismic waves are vibrations that travel through the Earth's crust, causing the ground to shake
• Epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake
• Primary waves (P-waves) are compressional waves that travel through the Earth's crust
• Secondary waves (S-waves) are shear waves that travel through the Earth's crust

Tsunamis

• A tsunami is a series of ocean waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, usually as a result of an earthquake
• A tsunami is not a singular wave, but rather a series of waves
• Tsunamis can be devastating for poorer countries due to lack of infrastructure, early warning systems, and emergency preparedness

Continental Slope

• A continental slope is the zone of abrupt depth change at the edge of a continent, where the continental shelf drops off into the deep ocean