Landforms and Landscapes Study Guide

Weathering
1.
2.

3.

What is the difference between chemical and mechanical weathering?

Describe each of the following types of weathering:
a. Unloading
b. Exfoliation
c. Frost wedging
d. Spheroidal weathering
e. Biological activity
f. Differential weathering
What factors affect weathering?

Erosion
1.

What is the single most important erosional agent on Earth?

2.
3.
4.
5.

What are the components of soil?

What factor has the greatest effect on soil formation?
What determines soil texture?
Give the compositions for points A, B, and C

Soil

Mass Wasting
1.
2.
3.

Why can the removal of vegetation trigger mass movements?

What is the force behind mass movements?
Describe each of the following mass movements:
a. Slump
b. Rockfall
c. Rockslide
d. Earthflow
e. Creep

Glaciers
1. What is a glacier?
2. Where do glaciers form?
3. Describe the two types of glaciers.
4. What percent of the Earth is covered by glaciers?
5. Define the following terms:
a. Plucking
b. Abrasion
c. Till
d. Calving
e. Cirque
f. Glacial trough
g. Horn
h. Arte
Deserts
1.
2.
3.

What force causes most of the erosion in desert areas?

What is the main type of weathering in deserts?
Define the following terms:
a. Ephemeral Stream
b. Playa
c. Alluvial Fan
d. Desert Pavement
e. Abrasion

Mountain Building
1.
2.
3.

What is orogenesis?
How are mountain classified?
What are the types of mountains?