Geography 360

GEOMORPHOLOGY

FALL 2006

STUDY GUIDES

Go to Second Midterm Study Guide

Go to Final Exam Study Guide

FIRST MIDTERM Monday, October 2

The following terms and concepts will be covered on the first midterm, Monday, October 2. There will be no questions on sections of the text not mentioned in lecture or referenced below. The exam will consist of ten multiple choice questions, five short answer questions, and one short essay. You will have several choices for esssay topic.

Topics and Concepts

Endogenic and Exogenic processes

(What is geomorphology?)

Development of Geomorphic thought -- Catastrophism, Uniformitarianism, Gradualism, Episodic behavior

Hutton, Gilbert, Powell, Davis, etc.
Concepts of base level, graded streams, cycles of erosion
Threshold response, driving forces and resisting forces
Systems theory -- energy and materials flow in/out of systems
Cyclic and random systems, open and closed systems
Static, steady-state, and dynamic equilibrium

Weathering

Chemical weathering, characteristics

Oxidation & reduction, (hydration), hydrolysis, chelation, carbonation

Physical (mechanical), characteristics

Stress release (exfoliation), salt weathering, thermal expansion & contraction, hydrofracturing, bioturbation

Weathering features --

grus, spheroidal weathering, tors, honeycomb weathering, karst (carbonation of limestone)
Rock resistance and differential weathering

Factors that influence weathering: CL O R P T

Soils as indicators of geomorphic history of land surface stability, climate, vegetation, relief, time (age)

Soil properties (texture, color, structure, consistence); soil horizons, soil boundaries

Behavior of rock and soil -- strength, resistance

Stress and Strength

Normal stress -- gravity
Shear stress, Compressional and tensional stress
Strain -- deformation in response to stress
Elastic, plastic, viscous behavior, fracturing

Shear Strength

Cohesion -- true cohesion and apparent cohesion
Internal friction -- plane friction and interlocking friction
Normal stress -- component of gravity perpendicular to surface
Shear stress -- parallel to surface

Coulomb Equation -- S = c + s igma tan phi (know what each part refers to)

(Shear strength is a function of cohesion plus normal stress tangent angle of friction)

Factors that influence cohesion
Factors that influence normal stress
Factors that increase/decrease shear strength
Factors that increase/decrease shear stress

Mass Movements

Types of materials -- bedrock, debris, unconsolidated fine sediments (earth)

Types of movements -- creep, solifluction, falls, topples, slides (translational slides and rotational slumps), rock slides, block glides, debris slides, debris flows, debris torrents or debris avalanches, earth flows, mudflows,

Role of joints and bedding planes relative to slope
Factors that increase slope angle, reduce stability -- natural and human-caused
Triggers for destabilization -- earthquake, rainstorms, lightning (vibration from thunder), etc.

Recognition of mass movement debris in field -- particle size, sorting, angularity, shape of deposits, etc.

Prediction and avoidance of mass movements, approaches
Regional or areal study -- susceptibility
Stability studies -- site specific

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