Weathering
What is the general term for the process that breaks rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition?
Mechanical weathering
What is erosion? Give 4 example of an agent of erosion.
The process of sediments being transported from one place to another. wind, water, glaciers, gravity
What is deposition? Give a simple example
Deposition is when eroded material is dropped; example: sand dropped at a river mouth or along a beach.
What rock type is most commonly associated with karst topography?
limestone
What is a glacier?
A large mass of moving ice formed from compacted snow that flows under its own weight.
In what order of features does a coastal landscape erode?
sea cave, stack, arch, stump
Name one example of mechanical (physical) weathering and briefly explain how it works.
ice wedging, biological activity, etc
How does running water (rivers/streams) move sediment differently than wind?
running water can transport larger sediments further, and smaller sediments stay suspended in water until the water stops moving. Wind transports only fine particles and for less predictable amounts of time
What landform is created where a river deposits sediment as it enters a larger, slower body of water (like an ocean or lake)?
Delta
Name two features commonly found in karst regions
Caves, sinkholes, springs, disappearing streams
What is the difference between a valley (alpine) glacier and an ice sheet (continental) glacier?
Valley glaciers are confined to mountain valleys and are smaller; ice sheets cover large areas across continents and are much thicker.
What processes cause a sea arch to collapse and form a coastal stack?
wave erosion from; force & abrasion
What is chemical weathering? Give 3 common agent that causes chemical weathering.
The breakdown of rock by chemical reactions. oxidation, plain water, acid rain
Explain how stream velocity affects the size of particles it can carry.
Faster velocity can carry larger particles; slower velocity drops larger particles first
Describe how a sandbar forms along a shoreline.
Sandbars form where waves or currents lose energy and drop sand; longshore drift and wave action concentrate sand into a bar.
Explain how caves form in karst regions in a few sentences.
Slightly acidic groundwater dissolves the limestone bedrock, creating caverns that form caves
Name two erosional landforms created by glaciers and briefly describe one.
u shaped valleys, moraines, kettle lakes
What is longshore drift, and how does it move sand along the coastline?
waves hit the shore at an angle due to the wind, it moves sediments in a diagonal pattern along a shore
Explain how plant roots can cause both mechanical and chemical weathering.
Roots grow into cracks (mechanical) and roots can produce organic acids that chemically break down minerals (chemical).
Describe how human activities (like removing vegetation) can increase erosion.
Removing vegetation leaves soil exposed, so rainfall can wash it away more easily ( taking anchors away)
Explain how the sorting of sediments occurs during deposition and what "well-sorted" vs "poorly-sorted" means.
Sorting: flowing water separates sediments by size; well-sorted = particles nearly same size (e.g., beach sand), poorly-sorted = mixed sizes (e.g., glacial till).
What is a sinkhole and what process typically causes one to form in karst areas?
Sinkhole: collapse or subsidence caused by removal of underground support when limestone dissolves; often due to dissolution or collapse of cave roofs.
What is glacial till and what is it made of?
the sediment carried and pushed by glaciers- sand, rocks, pebbles, dirt, gravel, boulders, etc.
What is the difference between a sand bar and a barrier island, and how does coastal erosion influence both?
sand bar- less permanent, smaller
barrier island- mostly permanent, larger
Describe how acid rain can change limestone over time. Include the chemical process in simple terms.
H2O + CO2 --> carbonic acid
carbonic acid is reactive to the calcium in limestone and breaks it down
Explain how a meander forms and how erosion and deposition work together to change its shape over time.
Meanders form where flow is faster on the outer bank (erodes) and slower on the inner bank (deposits), causing the bend to widen; oxbow lakes can form when a meander is cut off.
Describe how an alluvial fan forms and why its sediments are coarse near the source and finer farther out.
Alluvial fan forms where a fast stream loses energy at the base of a mountain, depositing coarse material near the mouth and finer material further out.
Describe how groundwater contributes to the development of karst landscapes
Groundwater flows through and dissolves soluble rock, enlarging fractures and creating underground drainage
What are the 2 types of erosion from glaciers?
plucking and abrasion
How do barrier islands form, and why are they important for protecting the mainland from storms?
A sand bar is a small ridge of sand just offshore, often underwater, while a barrier island is a larger island of sand above the water that runs parallel to the coast. Coastal erosion moves sand around, changing the size and shape of both.