Glacial Erosion , The Earth System, Earth interior , water erosion, wave erosion

glacier

A large mass of ice that moves slowly over land.

continental glacier

A glacier that covers much of a continent or large island

ice ages

freezing times

valley glacier

A long, narrow glacier that forms when snow and ice build up in a mountain valley

the two processes by which glaciers erode the land are

plucking and abrasion

plucking

The process by which a glacier picks up rocks as it flows over the land

till

the mixture of sediments that a glacier deposits directly on the surface

moraine

The till deposited at the edges of a glacier that forms a ridge.

kettle

a small depression that forms when a chunk of ice is left in glacial till

system

A group of parts that work together as a whole

Energy

the ability to do work

atmosphere

the relatively thin envelope of gases that forms Earth's outermost layer

geosphere

a metal core, a solid middle layer, and a rocky outer layer

hydrosphere

All the water on earth

Biosphere

the parts of Earth that contain living organisms

constructive forces

Forces that shape Earth's surface by building mountains and landmasses

destructive forces

destroy and wear away landmasses through processes like erosion and weathering

seismic waves

When earthquakes occur they produce

pressure

results from a force pressing on an area

crust

The layer of rock that forms Earth's outer surface.

basalt

a dark, fine-grained rock

granite

A usually light colored rock with coarse gains

Mantle

The layer of hot, solid material between Earth's crust and core.

lithosphere

the solid, outer layer of the earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle

Astheosphere

soft layer of rock, can flow slowly, in the mantle

outer core

A layer of molten iron and nickel that surrounds the inner core of Earth

inner core

a dense ball of solid metal

runoff

water moves over the land, carries particles.

land surface

moving water is the major agent of the erosion that has shaped Earth's blank

rills

Tiny grooves in the soil

gully

a large groove or channel in the soil that carries runoff after a rainstorm

stream

a channel along which water is continually flowing down a slope

tributary

A stream or river that flows into a larger river

Through erosion, a river creates…

valleys, waterfalls, flood plains, meanders, and oxbow lakes

meander

A looplike bend in the course of a river

flood plain

the flat, wide area of land along a river

oxbow lake

A meander that has been cut off from the river

delta

sediment deposited where a river flows into an ocean or lake builds up a landform

alluvial fan

A wide, sloping deposit of sediment formed where a stream leaves a mountain range

groundwater

the term geologists use for underground water

groundwater can cause erosion through

chemical weathering

stalactite

A deposit that hangs like an icicle from the roof of a cave

stalagmite

Slow dripping builds up a cone-shaped stalagmite from the cave floor

karst topography

A type of landscape in rainy regions where there is limestone near the surface, characterized by caverns, sinkholes, and valleys

headland

A part of the shore that sticks out into the ocean

beach

an area of the shoreline that is made up of deposited sediment

longshore drift

The movement of water and sediment down a beach caused by waves coming in to shore at an angle

spit

a beach that projects like a finger out into the water