2.2 Erosion & Deposition by Wind, Ice, & Gravity

Constructive geologic processes

Natural processes that build landforms, such as volcanic eruptions, sediment deposition, and uplift of Earth's crust.

Destructive geologic processes

Processes that break down and wear away rocks and minerals, often leading to the formation of new landscapes.

mass movement

to the downslope movement of soil, rock, and debris under the influence of gravity. This process can lead to significant changes in landscape features and can occur rapidly or gradually.

velocity

the speed of a mass movement as it occurs, influencing the extent of erosion and deposition.

gradients

the steepness of a slope, affecting the rate of mass movement and erosion.

Discharge rate

the volume of water flowing through a river channel over a specific period, which can affect erosion and sediment transport.

meandering stream

A winding river that erodes its banks and deposits sediment in a manner that creates distinct curves and bends.

Abrasion

The process of erosion that occurs when particles carried by wind, water, or ice scrape against rock surfaces, leading to their wearing away.

Deflation

The process of erosion that involves the removal of loose, fine-grained particles from the ground surface by wind, leading to a lowering of the land surface.

Dune

A hill or ridge of sand formed by the wind as it transports and deposits sand grains.

Glacier

A large mass of ice that moves slowly over land, formed from compacted snow and often responsible for significant erosion and deposition features.

Glacial Drift

The material, such as soil and rock debris, that is transported and deposited by glaciers as they advance and melt.

Glacial striations

Surface scratches in rock caused by the movement of glaciers, indicating the direction of glacial flow.

Glacial Grooves

Deep formation found on rock surfaces by the movement of glaciers.

Alpine Glacier

A glacier that forms in mountainous regions, flows down valleys, and is typically smaller than continental glaciers.

Continental Glacier

A massive glacier that covers large land areas, flows outward from its center, and can reshape the landscape over extensive regions.

Glacial erratic

A boulder or rock fragment transported and deposited by a glacier, often found far from its origin.

Kettle lakes

Depressions formed in glacial terrain when a block of ice melts, creating a basin that fills with water.

creep

A slow and gradual movement of soil or rock down a slope due to gravity, often causing deformation of the surface.

rockfall

A sudden and rapid collapse of rocks down a slope or cliff, often triggered by weathering or seismic activity.

landslide

A rapid downslope movement of rock, earth, or debris, often triggered by factors such as rainfall, earthquakes, or human activity.

mudflow

A flow of water-saturated soil and debris that moves rapidly down slope, often after heavy rainfall or melting snow.

Lateral Moraine

A ridge of debris deposited along the sides of a glacier, formed from the material that has eroded from the glacier's edges as it moves.

Terminal Moraine

A pile of debris deposited at the end of a glacier, marking its furthest advance, as gravity moves material down the slope of the glacier.

remote sensing

The use of satellite or aerial imagery to collect data and analyze features on the Earth's surface without physical contact.

satellite data

information collected from space-based instruments to monitor and analyze Earth's surface and environment.

LANDSAT

a series of satellites that provide detailed images of the Earth's surface for land use and environmental monitoring.

Outwash

A sedimentary deposit formed by glacial melt-water, consisting of sorted materials such as sand and gravel.

Till

Unsorted sediment deposited directly by glacial ice, consisting of a mix of clay, silt, sand, and boulders.

eskers

Long, winding ridges of sediment deposited by glacial melt-water, flowing through tunnels within and underneath glaciers as the glacier moved. As the cold ice melted when in contact with the warm surface of Earth, leaving behind mounds and winding ridges of sediment marking the glacier's path as it moved.

desert

A barren area of land where little precipitation occurs, resulting in sparse vegetation and often characterized by sand dunes or rocky terrain.

coastlines

The areas where land meets the ocean, characterized by various landforms such as beaches, cliffs, and dunes.

flooding

The overflow of water onto normally dry land, often caused by heavy rainfall, storm surges, or the melting of snow and ice.