Landforms (Notes)
Alpine Ski House Learning Material
Page 1: Notice and Disclaimer
This material is for educational purposes only.
Digital reproduction outside the class’ Google Classroom is strictly prohibited.
Page 2: Course Information
Course Code: SS M4
Course Name: Places & Landscape in a Changing World
Page 3: Learning Outcomes
Identify geographical processes and major landforms.
Evaluate implications of geographical features and changes on humans.
Propose actions to mitigate natural disasters and pollution.
Main Source: Introduction to Geography by Getis et al.
Page 4: Learning Content
Focus on Earth Materials, Plate Tectonics, Weathering, and Erosion.
Page 5: Earth Materials
Rocks vary in mineral composition.
Three main types of rocks:
Igneous
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
Page 6: Igneous Rocks
Formed by cooling and solidification of molten rocks.
Two types:
Intrusive: Formed below ground from magma.
Extrusive: Formed above ground from lava.
Page 7: Sedimentary Rocks
Formed by compression and cementation of particles.
Can derive from organic materials like corals and shells.
Page 8: Metamorphic Rocks
Formed from igneous and sedimentary rocks under heat and pressure.
Page 9: Geologic Time
Earth formed approximately 4.7 billion years ago.
Landscapes can be traced back millions of years.
Alfred Wegener proposed the Continental Drift Theory.
Page 10: Movements of the Continent
Landforms are surface features of the Earth's crust.
Below the crust is the asthenosphere, supporting the lithosphere.
Lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates.
Page 12: Plate Boundaries
Divergent Boundaries: Plates move apart (e.g., Great Rift Valley).
Transform Boundaries: Plates slide past each other (e.g., San Andreas Fault).
Convergent Boundaries: Plates move toward each other, forming trenches and mountains (e.g., Marianas Trench, Himalayas).
Page 20: Tectonic Forces
Earth's crust is altered by plate movement.
Two types of tectonic forces:
Diastrophism: Large-scale deformation of the crust.
Volcanism: Involves volcanic activity.
Page 21: Diastrophism
Involves warping, folding, faulting, and leveling of the crust.
Can lead to the formation of ocean basins and mountain systems.
Page 26: Earthquakes and Tsunamis
Movement along faults can cause earthquakes.
Underwater movements can generate tsunamis.
Page 28: Gradational Processes
Responsible for land surface reduction.
Types of gradational processes:
Weathering
Mass Movement
Erosion
Page 29: Weathering
Breakdown of rocks due to atmospheric factors.
Two types:
Mechanical Weathering: Physical disintegration of rocks.
Chemical Weathering: Changes in molecular structure of rocks.
Page 35: Mass Movement
Downward movement of materials due to gravity (e.g., landslides).
Page 36: Erosion
Geological process of wearing away and transporting materials by natural forces.
Page 39: Major Landforms of the World
71% of Earth's surface is water; 29% is land.
Page 41: Landforms
Natural features of the landscape, including underwater features.
Page 42: Landmass
Large, continuous masses of land, ideally separated by water.
Page 48: Mountain Ranges
Geographic areas with numerous related mountains (e.g., Himalayas, Andes).
Page 53: Volcanoes
Mountains with craters or vents for lava and gases.
Page 57: Plateaus
Areas of highland with relatively flat terrain (e.g., Tibetan Plateau).
Page 58: Plains
Large areas of flat land with little elevation change (e.g., West Siberian Plain).
Page 62: Peninsulas
Land bordered by water on three sides (e.g., Arabian Peninsula).
Page 64: Archipelagos
Chains or clusters of islands (e.g., Malay Archipelago).
Page 65: Deserts
Areas with little precipitation, hostile for life (e.g., Sahara Desert).
Page 67: Isthmus
Narrow land strip connecting two larger land areas (e.g., Isthmus of Panama).
Page 68: Hills
Rounded natural elevations lower than mountains (e.g., Chocolate Hills).
Page 69: References
Various sources including National Geographic and textbooks on geography.
Page 70: Educational Use
Material is for educational and personal use only.