Y8 geography

term 4 sem 2

Landform

A natural physical feature on Earth's surface, such as mountains, valleys, plateaus, and dunes.

Landscape

The visible features of an area of land

Geomorphology

The scientific study of landforms and the processes that shape them over time.

Tectonic Processes

Movements within Earth's crust that create landforms

Gradational Processes

Natural forces that wear down and reshape landforms

Continental Plate Movements

The shifting of Earth's large plates that causes landforms like mountain ranges, ocean trenches, and earthquakes.

Faulting

The fracturing of Earth's crust due to stress, often resulting in landforms like fault

Folding

The bending of rock layers due to pressure and forming features

Volcanic Activity

The eruption of magma from beneath Earth's crust, forming landforms like volcanoes and lava plateaus.

Weathering

The breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces by physical (e.g. freeze thaw), chemical (e.g. acid rain), or biological processes (e.g. plant roots).

Erosion

The removal and transport of weathered material by agents like water, wind, ice, or gravity.

Mass Wasting

The downward movement of rock and soil due to gravity, including landslides and rockfalls.

Transportation

The movement of eroded materials by rivers, wind, glaciers, or ocean currents.

Deposition

The laying down of transported material

Spiritual Value

The sacred significance of landscapes and landforms, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Economic Value

The use of landscapes for resources, tourism, agriculture, and industry.

Cultural Value

The importance of a landscape in traditions, stories and identity

Aesthetic Value

The visual appeal and beauty of landscapes that inspire people

landform

a natural feature of the Earth's surface created by various physical processes

coastal landform

a landform shaped by the interaction between land and sea, including erosion and deposition by waves, wind, and water

cliff

a steep face of rock and earth formed by erosion along coastlines

cove

a small, sheltered bay with narrow entrances, often formed by wave erosion

beach

a landform along the shoreline made of sand, pebbles, or rocks deposited by waves

dune

a mound or ridge of sand formed by wind action, typically found near beaches or deserts

reef

a ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the sea, often forming ecosystems

island

a piece of land completely surrounded by water

riverine landform

a landform created by the movement of water in river systems, including features like floodplains and riverbanks

river basin

the area of land drained by a river and its tributaries

floodplain

flat land near a river that is prone to flooding and often has fertile soil

desert landform

a landform found in dry regions with less than 250 mm of rainfall per year, shaped mainly by wind

sand dune

a hill of loose sand built by wind in desert or coastal environments

rock formation

a naturally occurring arrangement of rocks shaped by erosion and weathering

hot desert

a desert located near the equator with high temperatures and minimal rainfall

cold desert

a desert found in high latitudes with cold temperatures and low precipitation

volcanic landform

a landform created by volcanic activity, including eruptions and lava flow

volcanism

the process by which molten rock (magma) reaches the Earth's surface, forming volcanic features

lava plateau

a flat area formed by repeated lava flows from volcanic eruptions

crater

a bowlshaped depression formed by volcanic activity or meteor impact