Physical Geo 1 (copy)

refers to the distance of open water over which a wind can blow, it determines the length of time and distance over which wind can generate waves

1. wave energy and wave patterns are influenced

2. they can dictate the direction of sediment transport along the coast. winds blowing parallel to the coastline can lead to the accumulation of sediment at certain locations of the erosion of others

3. wind driven water currents like long shore drift and rip currents can transport sediment along the shoreline

4. the growth patterns of vegetation along the coastline

1. there is less sediment available to absorb the energy from the waves and storm surges.

2. it also provides less protection from wave action which can undercut the base of the cliffs

3. limited space for sediment redistribution, this can result in it accumulating at the base of the cliffs and increasing the pressure on them

a wider beach typically provides more sediment buffer, reducing the impact of waves and storm surges and therefore reducing erosion rates

Tourism can lead to deforestation, soil erosion, and destabilization of slopes, increasing the likelihood of landslides and avalanches.

Dredging is the process of removing sediment or debris from the bottom of bodies of water to maintain navigation channels or restore ecosystems.

this is where the waves bend, as some slow down after hitting the shallow ledge but the parts of the wave that dont, continue at the fast rate, causing it to bend

Mass movement model

It is formed where sediments are deposited onto a straight shoreline with strong waves. The waves push the sediments to spread outwardly creating the tooth-like shape. Example, Tiber River of Italy.

Deltas with this triangular or fan shape are called arcuate (arc-like) deltas. The Nile River forms an arcuate delta as it empties into the Mediterranean Sea.

Acuate delta

Cuspate delta

Birds-foot delta

• a steep channel gradient

• a large proportion of coarse material

• easily erodable bank material

• highly variable discharge

semi-circular sand or gravel deposits located on the inner banks of a meander

It is an active bluff if there is a river eroding it, but most bluffs are from past river meanders eroding it as they migrate downstream. they undercut the floodplain which collapses and leaves the bluff

a line of steep cliffs or land parallel to the floodplain

Riffles are areas of shallow water in the straight sections of the channel between meanders

small ridges of deposited sediment (gravel sized)

A deeper section of a river bed found on the outside edge of a meander

Helicoidal flow is a type of flow pattern where the fluid moves in a spiral or helix-like motion.

Sinuous means having many curves and turns, like a winding river or a twisting road.

Turbidity currents are fast-moving underwater flows that transport sediment down continental slopes, forming submarine canyons.

Alluvium is loose sediment deposited by flowing water, such as rivers and streams, containing sand, silt, and clay particles.

A drainage basin is an area of land where all the water drains into a common outlet, such as a river, lake, or ocean.

the area of land around the river that is drained

Semi-fluid layer beneath the lithosphere where tectonic plates move

Reservoir of molten rock beneath the Earth's surface

Convergent boundaries where one oceanic plate subducts under another

Force that opposes motion between surfaces in contact

Process where only a portion of a rock melts

Affects the melting point of the mantle in subduction zones

Forms 150km to 200km away parallel to the plate margin

Process where one tectonic plate moves under another

Accumulation of sediment scraped off a subducting plate

Rigid outer layer of Earth, including the crust and upper mantle

Seismic events caused by the release of stress along faults

Increased heat retention due to human activities

Cooling of the Earth's surface by radiating heat

Wobbling motion of Earth's axis

Curves in a river's path caused by erosion and deposition

Rain caused by a front of warm and cold air colliding

Rainfall due to air being forced up a mountain

Fog formed by warm, moist air moving over a cold surface

Fog formed in valleys due to cooling of air

Radiation of heat from the Earth's surface

A layer in the atmosphere in which air temperature increases with height

Cooling by direct contact with a cooler surface

Urban area with higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas

Sudden downward movement of air

Reduction in air pressure when it flows through a narrow section

Cycles in Earth's orbit affecting climate variations

Earth's axial tilt angle variation over time

Dark spots on the sun's surface affecting climate

Reflectivity of a surface

Measure of empty spaces in a material

Ability of a material to allow fluids to pass through

is a property that describes how much energy is needed to change the temperature of a material. Objects with a high specific heat capacity require a greater change in energy to change their temperature

Study of water distribution and movement on Earth

Study of landforms produced by flowing water

Area of land where all precipitation flows to a common outlet

Combined process of water evaporation from soil and transpiration from plants

Precipitation caught and stored by vegetation before reaching the ground

Process of water seeping into the soil

Downward movement of water through soil and rock

Refilling of underground water sources

Graph showing the discharge of a river over time

Measure of the open spaces in rocks or soil

Ability of rock or soil to allow water to flow through it

Erosion caused by the scraping of materials along a surface

Formation and collapse of vapor cavities in a liquid

Transport of sediment by rolling or sliding along the ground

Transport of sediment in short jumps or bounces

Graph showing the relationship between water velocity and sediment transport

Line connecting the lowest points along a river channel, thus the line of fastest flow

Clearing of trees from a forested area

Natural embankments along a river channel

Average time between floods of a certain magnitude

Structures built to control natural processes, like dams or levees

Weathering, erosion, transport and deposition of the material.

Movement and interaction of Earth's lithosphere plates.

Process where new oceanic crust is formed through volcanic activity

One tectonic plate moving under another

Formation of mountains through tectonic plate movement and the folding of the earths crust

Breakdown of rocks into smaller particles through physical chemical or biological processes

Mechanical processes like freeze-thaw and root action breaking down rocks.

Rock breakdown due to chemical reactions like hydrolysis and carbonation.

Influences like climate, rock type and vegetation

Can effect the shear strength of a slope as well as the shear stress on the slope.

bulk movements of soil and rock debris down slopes in response to the pull of gravity

Methods like pinning, netting, and afforestation to reduce mass movements. undercutting and also terracing of the slopes changed the slope

Calculations of energy exchanges within a day.

Measure of surface reflectivity to incoming solar radiation.

Heat exchange between the surface and the air.

the heat added to an object in order for it to change state.

Balance of energy entering and leaving Earth.

Global patterns of prevailing winds.

Continuous, directed movement of ocean water.

Transfer of heat through fluid movement.

Lifting of air due to colliding air masses.

Air forced to rise over a mountain barrier.

Increased heat retention due to human activities.

Urban area with higher temperatures than surroundings.