Mountains and glaciers

?
What is a mountain?
No actual definition. Extreme upland (differentiate from hills)
1 of 14
How are mountains formed?
Geological processes/large scale movements of the Earth's crust. e.g. Volcanism, plate movements, folding, faulting etc.
2 of 14
What characteristics do mountains usually have?
Steep? Peaks. Rocky and barren? Trees on lower slopes. Possibly snow and ice at higher altitudes.
3 of 14
What is a plateau?
A broad flat area of "appreciable" elevation above the surrounding lands. Often formed by lava flows- undeformed sediments.
4 of 14
What influences the type of movement of material down a mountain slope?
Type of material (i.e. physical properties, moisture content)
5 of 14
List some types of movement of material downslope.
Creeping, flowing, slumping, falling, mudflow, rock fall, debris slide.
6 of 14
When does material move?
When external stress>strength of inter-particle pressures and friction.
7 of 14
Why are high altitudes less habitable for human settlement?
Extreme conditions- higher UV, lower O2 concentrations (air is thinner), colder with increasing height, rocky terrain- unsuitable for agriculture, harsher weather.
8 of 14
How do slopes affect the downslope environment?
Deliver water and sediment to streams. Flow of water removes and transports material-modifies the landscape (erosion and deposition).
9 of 14
Examples of mountain ranges?
Rockies, N.America; Andes, S. America; Himalayas, C. Asia.
10 of 14
What is used to work out if glaciers will form on mountains or not?
Nivometric co-efficient = Snow: Rain
11 of 14
What happens if the Nivometric co-efficient is 1? 0?
1- precipitation= all snow 0=all Rain
12 of 14
What can affect the Nivometric co-efficient value?
Air temperature (altitude, latitude, proximity to ocean (maritime climate)
13 of 14
What other than the Nivometric co-efficient can influence where glaciers form?
Aspect of slopes- North facing= less insolation. Biome type-desert? (Some regions of Antarctica=no precipitation for 100's years).
14 of 14

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Geological processes/large scale movements of the Earth's crust. e.g. Volcanism, plate movements, folding, faulting etc.

Back

How are mountains formed?

Card 3

Front

Steep? Peaks. Rocky and barren? Trees on lower slopes. Possibly snow and ice at higher altitudes.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

A broad flat area of "appreciable" elevation above the surrounding lands. Often formed by lava flows- undeformed sediments.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Type of material (i.e. physical properties, moisture content)

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Environmental Science/Studies resources:

See all Environmental Science/Studies resources »See all Environmental Geography resources »