Transcript LANDSCAPES

LANDSCAPES
general shape of land surface
ESRT pages 2 and 3
TYPES
•
1. Mountains - high elevations, steep
gradients, igneous and/or metamorphic
rock, faults and folds
2. Plateaus – moderate relief, horizontal
rock structure, sedimentary rocks or
extrusive igneous flows, often dissected by
many streams
Catskill Mountains – Part of
Appalachian Plateau
3. Plains – low elevation, sedimentary
rocks, generally level
Escarpment
steep slope or long cliff of resistant rock that
marks the edge of a relatively flat area;
separate level areas of different elevations
Factors Affecting Landscapes
1. Uplift and Leveling Forces
– Uplift – building up of land (mountains) plate tectonic forces
– Leveling – weathering, erosion and
subsidence
2. Climate
Temperature and moisture and amount of
vegetation
a. Arid – steep slopes and sharp
and angular features
b. Humid – smoother and more
rounded features
3. Bedrock
Related to hardness and resistance to
weathering
- hard rock – weathers more slowly,
steeper cliffs
- soft rock – weathers easily (quicker),
gentle slopes
Which layers are more
resistant to weathering?
4. Time
a. Young – uplift, fast streams, V-shaped
valleys, steep slopes
b. Mature – low rounded hills, broad flat
valleys, meanders and flood plains
c. Old – erosion almost to sea level
5. Human Activities
A.
B.
C.
D.
Land stripped of vegetation
Building of roads
Cities
Building of new homes
STREAM DRAINAGE PATTERNS
• Dendritic - horizontal rock layers, plains
and plateaus
• Radial – radiate out from a single point,
volcano or a single peak
• Annular - A ring-like pattern associated
with maturely dissected dome or basin
structures
• Rectangular – strongly jointed and faulted
• Trellis – rocks with different hardness,
faulted and folded, valleys and ridges
STREAM DRAINAGE PATTERNS