Surface Processes and Natural Disasters - Exam 2 Study Guide

Flashcards covering key concepts from the Surface Processes and Natural Disasters lecture for exam preparation.

Stress

Force applied to rocks that can cause deformation.

Strain

Change in shape or size due to stress.

Compressional Stress

Pushes rocks together.

Tensional Stress

Pulls rocks apart.

Shear Stress

Causes sliding past each other.

Elastic Deformation

Returns to original shape.

Brittle Deformation

Breaks under stress.

Ductile Deformation

Bends without breaking.

Anticline

Upward fold (oldest in center).

Syncline

Downward fold (youngest in center).

Dome

Circular uplift.

Basin

Circular depression.

Normal Fault

Hanging wall moves down.

Reverse Fault

Hanging wall moves up.

Strike-slip Fault

Horizontal movement.

Earthquake

Sudden ground shaking from energy release.

Focus (Earthquake)

Where earthquake starts underground.

Epicenter

Point above the focus of an earthquake.

Elastic Rebound Theory

Stress builds then rocks break, releasing energy.

P waves

Fastest seismic waves, travel through all materials.

S waves

Slower seismic waves that only travel through solids.

Surface waves

Most destructive seismic waves.

Richter Scale

Measures magnitude of earthquakes.

Mercalli Scale

Measures damage from earthquakes.

Liquefaction

Soil behavior where soil acts like a liquid.

Bathymetry

Study of ocean depth.

Sonar

Uses sound waves to map ocean floor.

Passive Margins

Regions with no tectonic activity.

Active Margins

Regions at plate boundaries.

Continental Shelf

Shallow area near land before the slope.

Abyssal plains

Flat areas on the ocean floor.

Trenches

Deep underwater valleys.

Mid-ocean ridges

Underwater mountain ranges.

Mass Movement

Downhill movement of materials due to gravity.

Rockfall

Rapid falling of rocks down a slope.

Slide

Rapid downhill movement of earth materials.

Debris Flow

A fast-moving mixture of water and sediment.

Slump

Downward movement of earth materials along a curved surface.

Creep

Slow, gradual movement of soil or rock.

Hydrologic Cycle

Movement of water through the Earth.

Runoff

Water that flows over land.

Infiltration

Water that soaks into the ground.

Drainage Basin

Area of land where all precipitation collects and drains off.

Divide

Geological feature that separates drainage basins.

Discharge

Volume of water flowing in a river.

Competence

Largest particle size that a river can carry.

Capacity

Total amount of sediment a river can carry.

Oxbow Lake

Curved lake formed from river meandering.