Abeka Earth and Space - Test 4 (Chapter 4)

levee

a natural ridge formed along the edge of a river's channel

exfoliation

a type of weathering that involves the breaking or peeling away of rock into layers

windward side

the side that usually has a gentle slope that progresses up to the crest as a dune forms

drainage system

the feature that consists of a relatively large stream and any smaller streams that flow into it

sea arch

a type of narrow, curved rock formation that forms when a sea cave is continually eroded

striae

large, deep grooves and scratches in a rock, produced by glaciers

oxidation

the process that occurs when oxygen from the atmosphere reacts with minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron to form new compounds

moraines

piles of debris left behind when a glacier melts

load

the material carried by a stream

drumlin

a low hill formed when a glacier overruns a moraine

fjord

a glacier-carved valley that has filled with seawater

karst

region of the earth's surface where limestone is exposed and abundant

barrier island

a narrow, sandy island formed by a large bar off the coast of the mainland

ice caps

ice sheets smaller than continental glaciers

horn

the sharp, steeple-shaped point of a mountain with three or more cirques

abrasion

the eroding action of windblown sand

breakwater

a long pile of rocks deposited parallel to the shore to prevent erosion

erosion

the processes like wind and running water carrying away the fragments, after rock has been broken into fragments

eolian

the suspension, saltation, and creep, in which wind transports sediments

river

a large stream that carries water from the mountains to the sea

headwaters

the source of a river

oxbow lake

feature formed when a sharp curve in a river is cut off from the rest of the river

drainage basin

region of land drained by a stream or drainage system

sinkhole

large, funnel-shaped depression caused by a cavern collapse

tributary

one of the numerous streams that feed into a river at various points

water

the main agen of chemical weathing

Great Divide

the drainage divide in the Rocky Mountains west of the Mississippi River drainage basin

sea cliff

the name for a vertical face of rock that forms when the sea removes rock from the base of a high ridge

ice wedging

a type of weathering that occurs when rainwater soaks into cracks in a rock and freezes, splitting the rock

caverns

limestone formations that have become filled with various passageways and large caves

kettle

a huge hole left in the ground when an ice chunk is left by a retreating glacier

Ice Age

the name for the time where one-third of the earth's land area was covered in glaciers

physical

the type of weathering that does not change the chemical composition of the minerals that compose rock

carbonic acid

the natural acid found in rainwater and groundwater that promotes chemical weathering of rocks

parabolic dune

a type of dune that is arch shaped with an open end of the arch pointing to the windward side

physical weathering

occurs when a plant's roots slowly thicken in a rock, causing the rock to crack

sheet erosion

the stripping away of a thin area of topsoil from the surface of the land

alluvial fan

the triangular sediment deposit formed on a plain by a temporary mountain stream

delta

fan-shaped deposit left by a large river when it reaches the ocean

landslide

sudden slide of huge masses of rock or soil down a slope

meanders

the winding, looping curves of rivers

cirque

huge, bowl shaped depression dug out by a valley glacier

earth slide

type of landslide that involves fine soil and small pebbles falling in large masses down a slope

deposition

after physical forces carry away rock fragments, the fragments are laid down in a new location by this process

runoff

after heavy rains, topsoil can be stripped away by excess water traveling downhill

stalagmite

a spire-like mass of dripstone on the floor of a cave

continental

a sheet of glacial ice that covers an immense area of flat land

creep

particles too heavy to be lifted by the wind are rolled in short bursts through this process

dripstone

large, icicle like masses of calcium carbonate found in caves

mass wasting

the general term for the downslope movements of rock, soil, volcanic ash, snow, or ice

terracing

the process of modifying a smooth slope into a series of level, stair-like steps

windbreaks

trees, tall plants, or fences designed to minimize land erosion; prevents erosion in two ways 1.) reduces the force of wind reaching the leeward side 2.) catches particles on the windward side to limit their motion

strip-cropping

planting alternate strips of erosion-prone crops with strips of erosion-preventing crops; reduces erosion because the erosion-prevention crops will limit the movement of eroded particles; particles from a strip of erosion-prone crops will be blocked from moving further when they reach a strip of erosion-preventing crops

soil creep

involves slow movements of soil

till

consists of a mix of particles sizes

waves widened sea arches until they collapsed

several towers of rocks rising out of the sea most likely formed by this

glaciers sliding over the mountainous ground, creating valleys

many mountain areas that have sharp ridges that divide huge bowl-shaped valleys were likely formed by this

the basin is at a lower elevation than the land surrounding it

a basin is surrounded by drainage divides; rainwater that falls into the basin is unable to flow into the ocean because of this

stresses within the rocks caused layers of rock to break and peel away

rock formations that are smooth, dome like structures with piles of broken rocks at the base were formed by this