Untitled Quiz

Study Notes

Instability occurs cyclically with temporary slope stabilization after landslides followed by continuous weakening due to weathering.

A weathering profile is a vertical section showcasing soil and rock layers formed by weathering processes.
Unweathered Bedrock: The solid rock layer at the base, minimally affected by weathering.
Partially Weathered Rock: Located above bedrock, where rock begins to degrade while maintaining some structure.
Saprolite: A thoroughly weathered layer that loses its original structure, often soft and crumbly.
Soil horizons (O, A, B, C) emerge from weathered material, categorized by organic content and mineral composition.
Limestone experiences rapid chemical weathering (karst formation); granite weathers slowly through physical processes.
Rocks rich in weatherable minerals contribute to quicker breakdown and affect landform development.

Plate Movements: Tectonic activity induces uplift, mountain formation, volcanism, and earthquakes, reshaping landscapes.
Faulting and Folding: Creates faults and folds in the Earth's crust, resulting in valleys, ridges, and escarpments.

Geological Time Scale: Weathering, erosion, and deposition processes gradually modify landforms; older landscapes are more eroded with mature features compared to younger ones.

Root systems from plants stabilize soil, mitigating erosion.
Dense vegetation, particularly in tropical rainforests, prevents soil degradation from heavy rains.
Decomposed plant material contributes organic matter to soil, improving fertility and structure.

River Systems: Carve valleys, produce floodplains, and deposit sediments, with intense rain contributing to river erosion and sediment transport.
Wetlands: Poor drainage areas evolve into swamps and marshes, influencing local hydrology and ecology.

Elevation and Slope: Affects water and sediment movement; steeper slopes experience faster erosion whereas flatter regions accumulate sediments.
Relief: The difference in elevation affects microclimates and water flow, shaping landform development.

Weathering profiles demonstrate the extent of chemical, physical, and biological weathering acting on rock over time.
An idealized weathering profile involves three zones: residual soil, weathered rock (saprolite), and unweathered bedrock.
Weathered rock, or saprolite, contains at least 10% unweathered corestones and is often permeable, especially in upper sections.
The "weathering front" distinguishes solid rock from saprolite and varies irregularly; deep weathering occurs to depths of 30-60 m, influenced by joint density and rock composition.

Tors consist of large, rounded boulders resting on solid bedrock, shaped through weathering that smooths their edges.
Surrounding areas often comprise loose, weathered rocks and soil from the main structure.
Location: Typically found in regions with strongly jointed rock.
Height: Varies from 20 m to 35 m.
Tors can feature core stones up to 8 m in diameter.
Formed predominantly by chemical weathering along joints and bedding planes.
Core stone size varies by joint spacing: widely spaced joints produce larger stones, while closely spaced joints lead to increased weathering and smaller stones.