Science 2.03 Shaping the Surface Flashcards

Questions and Answers

How does moving water cause erosion?

As the water moves, it picks up soil and rocks.

How does water shape Earth's surface?

Water causes erosion which changes Earth's surface and creates different forms such as gullies, streams, and even rivers.

How are glaciers formed?

Glaciers form when snow melts quickly; slowly year after year, this snow builds higher.

What landforms are created by glacial erosion and deposition?

A glacier cuts into a valley, creating a fjord. When glaciers carve the side of a mountain, they create a horn. Signup and view all the answers

How does wind shape Earth's surface?

Wind can make rocks smooth (called abrasion), pick up particles, and create hilly dunes that protect the coastline. Signup and view all the answers

How do waves shape Earth's surface?

Waves hit against the coastline, break rock, and move sand, creating features like wave-cut cliffs and sea caves. Signup and view all the answers

What landforms are created by wave erosion and deposition?

They can create hollow caves and a sea cave. Signup and view all the answers

What is a gully?

A gully is a groove in the land that carries runoff after a storm. Signup and view all the answers

What are streams?

Streams are channels that continually move water downstream. Signup and view all the answers

What is a meander?

A meander is a loop-like bend in a river. Signup and view all the answers

What is an oxbow lake?

An oxbow lake is a meander that has been cut off from a river. Signup and view all the answers

What is runoff?

Runoff is excess water from rainfall that moves over the land carrying sediment. Signup and view all the answers

What is a spit?

A spit is a beach that juts out into the water as a result of deposition. Signup and view all the answers

What are sandbars?

Sandbars are long ridges of sand that build up off the coastline as a result of deposition. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Erosion and Water Dynamics

Moving water erodes soil and rocks by picking them up as it flows.
Erosion from water reshapes Earth's surface, forming features like gullies, streams, and rivers.

Glaciers Formation and Impact

Glaciers develop from accumulating snow that melts and refreezes over time.
Glacial erosion carves valleys, producing landforms such as fjords and horns.

Wind as an Erosive Force

Wind smoothens rocks through abrasion, wearing down surfaces.
Wind removes loose particles from land in a process known as deflation, lowering the terrain.
Wind carries sand to create coastal dunes, which protect shorelines.

Wave Action and Coastal Geography

Waves erode coastlines by crashing against rocks, leading to the formation of wave-cut cliffs and sea caves.
Erosion and deposition by waves can create distinctive coastal landforms, including hollow caves.

Key Landforms from Erosion and Deposition

A gully is a groove in the landscape that channels storm runoff.
Streams are waterways that continuously carry water downstream.
Meanders are loop-like bends found in rivers, while oxbow lakes are formed when a meander becomes cut off from its river.
Runoff refers to excess rainfall that moves across the ground, transporting sediment.
A spit is a beach extension into the water due to deposition, while sandbars are elongated sand ridges formed offshore from accumulated sediment.

Description

Explore the fundamental concepts of how moving water and glaciers shape the Earth's surface through erosion and sediment transport. These flashcards cover key definitions and processes that define our planet's geography.