Geography: Mass Movement, Volcanoes, Soils, and Rocks

What is mass movement?

The downhill movement of weathered material under the force of gravity.

Name three types of mass movement.

Soil creep, landslide, mudflow.

What is soil creep?

The very slow movement of soil down a slope.

What is a landslide?

A rapid movement of large amounts of rock or soil down a steep slope.

What is a mudflow?

Fast moving water and saturated soil flowing downhill.

How does human activity cause mass movement?

Deforestation and road cutting weaken slopes.

Name one way mass movement can be prevented.

Planting trees or building retaining walls.

What is a volcano?

An opening in the Earth's crust where magma reaches the surface.

What is magma?

Molten rock beneath the Earth's surface.

What is lava?

Magma that has reached the Earth's surface.

Name the three main parts of a volcano.

Magma chamber, vent, crater.

Name one advantage of living near a volcano.

Fertile soil for farming.

Name one danger of volcanoes.

Lava flows, ash clouds, or toxic gases.

What is a rock?

A natural solid made of one or more minerals.

Name the three main rock types.

Igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic.

How are sedimentary rocks formed?

Layers of sediment compacted over time.

What is limestone?

A sedimentary rock formed from sea shells.

What is carbonation?

A process where rainwater dissolves limestone.

limestone landform.

Pavement, swallow hole, cave, stalactite.

What is a limestone pavement?

A flat surface of limestone broken by cracks called grykes.

Why does limestone not form rivers easily?

Water drains underground through cracks.

What is soil?

A mixture of minerals, air, water, and organic matter.

What is humus?

Decayed plant and animal material in soil.

Name the layers of soil.

Topsoil, subsoil, bedrock.

Why is topsoil important?

It contains nutrients and supports plant growth.

What affects soil formation?

Climate, parent rock, vegetation, time.

What is leaching?

Rain washing nutrients down through the soil.

How are metamorphic rocks formed

when existing rocks are transformed by intense heat and pressure