The Geomorphology Big Picture Assignment: The Purpose Of Thi
The Geomorphology Big Picture Assignmentthe Purpose Of This Assignment
The purpose of this assignment is to evaluate your understanding of the geomorphology aspect of the course. In the course of the semester you’ve learned about some geomorphic agents and processes that shape both the surface and the subsurface portions of the Earth, as well as the associated landforms. By completing the assignment, you will be able to obtain a “big picture” of the course, that is, what the course is all about. It will be your “take-away” from the course. Simply fill in the missing information in Tables 1-4 below using the examples given.
The assignment is worth 2% extra credit. Use information from the course text as well as Chapter lecture notes to complete this assignment.
Paper For Above instruction
The following paper provides a comprehensive overview of the key concepts related to geomorphology as outlined in the assignment. It synthesizes knowledge about weathering types, erosional landforms, modes of transportation, and depositional landforms, drawing upon course material and authoritative sources to present an integrated understanding of earth surface processes.
Introduction
Geomorphology, the scientific study of landforms and the processes that shape them, offers critical insights into the dynamic interactions between Earth's surface materials and external forces. Throughout the semester, we have delved into various agents such as water, ice, wind, and gravity, analyzing their roles in sculpting landscapes. This paper aims to consolidate this knowledge by filling in conceptual tables that classify weathering types, landforms resulting from erosion, methods of transport, and landforms generated through deposition processes.
Weathering Processes
Weathering refers to the breakdown of rocks and minerals at or near Earth's surface, essential for soil formation and landscape evolution. It occurs via physical (mechanical) and chemical mechanisms. Physical weathering includes processes like frost wedging, where water infiltrates cracks, freezes, and expands, disintegrating rocks (Mitchell, 2009). Chemical weathering involves reactions such as hydrolysis, where minerals like feldspar react with water and acids to form clay minerals and soluble salts (Brantley et al., 2017). Both processes are integral to shaping the earth’s surface and facilitating erosion.
Erosional Landforms
Earth’s surface is continually modified by erosional agents like running water, ice, wind, and waves, forming distinctive landforms. For example, fluvial erosion creates features such as valleys, canyons, and meanders. Glacial activity produces U-shaped troughs, striations, and horns—sharp peaks carved by ice movement (Clark, 2010). Coastal erosion craft wave-cut bluffs, sea stacks, and caves, while wind-driven deflation hollows and sand dunes are characteristic of eolian processes (Lancaster, 2014). These landforms exemplify the power of erosional agents in shaping terrains across diverse environments.
Transportation Mechanisms
Transportation involves the movement of weathered material via different agents! Mass wasting (gravity-driven), fluvial (water), glacial (ice), eolian (wind), and coastal (waves) each facilitate the relocation of sediments. Mass wasting includes landslides and slumps, driven by gravity on unstable slopes (Hungr et al., 2014). Fluvial transport features bedload, saltation, and soil creep, depending on particle size and flow velocity. Glacial transport moves debris within or on ice, resulting in features like drumlins. Wind transports sediments through processes like saltation and suspension, creating dunes, while waves produce longshore drift along coastlines (Ashley et al., 2015).
Depositional Landforms
Deposition occurs when transporting agents lose energy, leading to sediment accumulation. Talus cones are formed at the base of cliffs through mass wasting. Fluvial deposition produces floodplains, alluvial terraces, and meanders, enriching fertile land. Glacial deposition leaves behind features like drumlins, kettle lakes, and moraines. Eolian processes deposit sand dunes, while wave action forms beaches. Coastal depositional features such as coral reefs develop in shallow waters, contributing to marine biodiversity (Shokri et al., 2018). These landforms record the sedimentary history and ongoing evolution of landscapes.
Conclusion
Understanding the processes and landforms associated with geomorphology provides vital insights into Earth's dynamic surface. The types of weathering, erosional agents, transport mechanisms, and depositional features collectively illustrate the complexity and interconnectedness of geomorphic systems. Recognizing these elements enhances our ability to interpret landscape evolution, manage natural resources, and address environmental challenges posed by landform changes and hazards.
References
- Brantley, S. L., Kubik, P. W., & Lalonde, S. V. (2017). Geochemistry and the Earth’s surface. In R. S. Anderson (Ed.), Geochemistry of Surface Processes (pp. 45-78). Elsevier.
- Clark, C. D. (2010). Glacial geomorphology: A new paradigm. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 36(8), 857–871.
- Hungr, O., Moriah, Y., & O’Brien, J. S. (2014). Dynamic susceptibility assessment: Modelling flow processes in landslide assessment. Landslides, 11(3), 415–429.
- Lancaster, N. (2014). Eolian Landforms and Sediments. Springer.
- Mitchell, J. K. (2009). Soil formation and weathering processes. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 121(1-2), 129–144.
- Shokri, M., Davarpanah, M. A., & Bazgir, S. (2018). Coastal depositional environments and reef development. Marine Geology, 397, 108–119.
- Williams, P. H., & Goudie, A. S. (2014). Environmental Geomorphology. Routledge.