Topography and Geomorphology

Flashcards focusing on key terminology and concepts related to topography and geomorphology.

Topography

The arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area.

Stratified rocks

Rocks composed of layers or strata.

Bedding planes

Surfaces that separate one layer of compressed rock from the next.

Lava flows

Lava that pours out onto the Earth's surface, where it cools and becomes solid.

Dolerite sills

Horizontal layers of igneous rock that have formed along a bedding plane.

Plateau

A large high-lying area that is relatively flat.

Sheetwash

Rainfall that flows over the land in a thin sheet.

Canyon landscapes

Landforms created by river erosion over long periods, leading to rugged cliffs and deep valleys.

Badlands

Dry terrain characterized by extensively eroded soft sedimentary rock and clay-rich soils, with steep slopes and minimal vegetation.

Basaltic plateau

Formed from high-temperature basaltic lava flows that accumulate on the surface and cool.

Mesa

An isolated flat-topped hill with steep sides, formed through the process of erosion.

Butte

A tall, flat-topped, steep-sided tower of rock, it is created through erosion and is taller than it is wide.

Conical hill

A landform resulting from the action of an entrenched river that cuts deeply into a plateau, lacking cap rock.

Scarp retreat

The process where a steep slope erodes backwards due to erosion, leading to narrow landforms.

Pediplain

A relatively flat rock surface that results from the joining of several pediments, typically a gently sloping erosion surface.

Utilization of slopes

The use of hilly landscapes for agriculture, grazing, tourism, or human settlement.