Erosion and Landscapes
What is erosion?
The movement of soil, rock, and land by natural forces like wind, water, or ice
What is deposition?
The process where sediments are dropped off and settle after being carried by wind, water or ice
What are tectonic forces?
Forces that cause the movement of tectonic plates, which can lead to mountain formation.
What causes water erosion?
Rainfall, rivers, and floods.
What are convergent boundaries?
Areas where two tectonic plates move toward each other, potentially forming mountains or volcanoes.
What are canyons?
What is a delta?
A landform created by sediment deposition at the mouth of a river.
How do rivers form canyons?
Rivers erode the land over time, creating deep gorges.
What is wind erosion?
The process of wind moving loose soil or sand, often in dry areas.
What happens at divergent boundaries?
Plates move apart, often leading to the formation of new crust.
How does erosion effect soil?
It moves the nutrients from the land causing crops to die.
How do sand dunes form?
Through wind deposition of sand in arid environments.
What is a U-shaped valley?
A valley formed by glacial erosion, characterized by a wide, flat bottom and steep sides.
How does erosion affect habitats?
It can destroy habitats, affecting plant and animal life.
What can transform boundaries cause?
Earthquakes due to plates sliding past each other.
Valleys, canyons, or cliffs
Describe the process of sediment settling.
Sediment carried by water, wind, or ice loses energy and drops to the ground, forming new landforms
What causes mountain formation?
The collision of tectonic plates at convergent boundaries.
Describe the impact of floods on erosion.
Floods can increase erosion rates, washing away soil and sediment
How do tectonic plates interact?
They can collide, pull apart, or slide past each other, affecting the Earth's surface.
Explain how erosion creates valleys
Through persistent action of water or ice moving the land over time.
What landforms are created by glaciers?
U-shaped valleys and moraines.
Explain how erosion by wind affects mountains.
Wind can wear away rock and soil, reshaping mountains over time.
What are the consequences of soil erosion?
Reduced agricultural productivity, habitat destruction, and degraded water quality.
Explain the relationship between tectonic plates and mountains.
Mountains often form at convergent boundaries where plates collide and force the land upward.