Exam Week Part 3b - Lithosphere: Surface Processes

Here is part b of the revised exam review...

A. Denudation: Weathering & Mass Wasting (Geosystems Chapter 13)

1. Define: Gradation and Degradation. What are the processes of gradation? What is aggradation?
2. Define: Erosion. What are the processes of erosion?
3. Define: Weathering. What are the 3 main agents of weathering?
4. Explain with examples mechanical weathering in terms of: Temperature variations, Unloading pressures, Frost wedging, Rain, Biological/Organic factors.
5. Explain with examples chemical weathering in terms of: Solution, Hydrolysis, and Oxidation. (Terminology: corrosion, corrasion)
6. What factors affect rates of weathering, name three?
7. Define: Mass Wasting.
8. Describe the nature of soil creep.
9. Describe nature of, and given examples of landslides.
10. Describe scree/talus slope formation.
11. Terminology to define: mudflow/mudslides, talus/scree, rock fall, talus cone, soil creep, solifluction, solution

B. Humid Landscapes (Geosystems Chapter 14)

1. What is the “work” of a river, list three?
2. How is energy used in a stream, (i.e., how is it dissipated)?
3. What is a Drainage Basin? Define related terms: Confluence, Tributary, Contributary, Distributary
4. Recognize the following drainage patterns: Dendritic, Trellis, Radial, Rectangular, Deranged
5. Describe the Load of a river: in Solution, in Suspension, as Bed load
6. Define Abrasion, Attrition, Corrosion, Hydraulic pressure in terms of stream erosion.
7. Identify the following features of rivers: Waterfalls, Rapids, Meanders, Flood Plain, and Levee (humaniform = dike), Pointbar, and Cut bank
8. Discuss how a river may rejuvenate itself.
9. Discuss the formation of an oxbow lake.
10. Define: Delta. What factors help shape or destroy a delta? Define Estuary. Note delta shapes: Arcuate, Birdsfoot, Estuarine, Braided and Cuspate
11. Describe and list the features associated with the “ages” of a river: Young, Mature, and Old

C. Karst Topography (Geosystems Chapter 13)

1. What is Karst topography?
2. Describe the process of chemical weathering by solution on limestone.
3. Identify the following features of solution: Limestone pavement, Sink hole (swallow hole), Uvala / Doline, and Grykes
4. Describe the process of deposition of limestone.
5. Identify the following features of deposition: Stalactites, Stalagmites, Pillar, and Flowstone

D. Desert Features (Geosystems Chapter 15)

1. Define the conditions that make a desert. On a map of the world locate the major zones of deserts and semi-arid regions.
2. Describe the nature of: Sandy deserts, Stony deserts, Rocky deserts, and Badlands.
3. Understand a sketch of and the formation of: Alluvial fan, Playa lake, Canyon, Mesa, Butte, Pediment, Escarpment, Pinnacle, Pedestal, Cap rock
4. Understand a sketch of and the formation of the following wind (aeolian) formed landforms: sand dunes, Pedestal or Pillar, Oasis, Desert pavement
5. Discuss human factors that have caused the expansion of the world’s deserts.

E. Glacial Landforms (Geosystems Chapter 17)

1. What effects may glaciation have on: sea-level, isostasy (isostatic rebound and eustasy), and lake formation.
2. Describe glaciers in terms of: Continental and Alpine.
3. Understand a sketch of and the formation of the following depositional features: terminal moraine, lateral moraine, medial moraine, erratic, Outwash plain, Kame, Esker, Drumlin
4. Understand a sketch of and the formation of the following erosional features: U-shaped valley, hanging valley, Cirque, Tarn, Arête, Horn, Glacial striations / groves, Fjord (fiord)
5. Understand a sketch of and the formation of the following water bodies: Tarn, Finger lake, Kettle lake, Pingo

F. Coastal Landforms (Geosystems Chapter 16)

1. What factors affect the characteristic landforms of the shoreline?
2. Define the causes of, and nature of Longshore currents, and Beachdrift.
3. Understand a sketch of and discuss the formation of: Barrier island / Offshore Bar, Baymouth bar, Beach, Estuary, Delta, Headland, Spit, Stack and arch, Tidal flat/Marsh, Tombolo, Wave-cut cliff /Notch
4. List two advantages and disadvantage of tides to humans.