Shaping Earth's Surface

Landform ID

100

This is a deep valley with very steep sides. Rivers (weathering and erosion) slowly wears away rock leaving the deep grooves behind.

A Canyon

200

This is a lowland area between higher lands such as mountains. Over very long periods of time, rivers and glaciers (weathering and erosion) cut a path across the Earth leaving these behind, between mountain peaks.

Valley

300

This is a flat area higher than the land around it and is formed when moving water and wind (weathering and erosion) weather a part of a mountain leaving behind some of the rock.

A Plateau

400

This is a flat area on Earth’s surface. It's formed when the rock making up the land is gradually worn away by weathering. This is caused by Wind and water

A Plain

500

This is a hollow space underground that was formed when rock is dissolved by chemical weathering

Cavern

Weathering 101

100

This type of weathering that breaks rocks into smaller pieces without changing what they are made of.

Physical (or Mechanical) Weathering

200

This type of weathering that changes the minerals in a rock, like when iron turns to rust.

Chemical Weathering

300

This mechanical process involves water freezing in a crack, expanding, and forcing the rock apart.

Ice Wedging

400

What forms when carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the air mixes with rainwater, dissolving rocks 

Acid Rain

500

This chemical process is when oxygen reacts with minerals, especially iron, to form rust.

Oxidation

Agents of Erosion

100

What is large, slow-moving mass of ice that erodes the land called?

Glacier

200

This agent of erosion that carves valleys and canyons by carrying sediment.

Running water (or rivers)

300

This agent responsible for polishing rocks (abrasion) and creating sand dunes.

Wind

400

This agent that erodes headlands to create sea caves, sea arches, and sea stacks.

Waves

500

This agent of erosion responsible for all forms of "mass movement."

Gravity

How'd It Form?

100

The process that occurs when tree roots find their way into small cracks in a rock, and then grow and break the rock apart is called ________________

Physical Weathering

200

The primary process by which a river creates a canyon over millions of years.

Erosion

300

The process that builds up a beach or a sandbar.

Deposition

400

Over time, weathering and erosion will cause a mountain to become this shorter, more rounded landform.

Hill

500

This triangular-shaped landform is created by deposition at the mouth of a river.

Delta