LANDSCAPES

ESRT pages 2 and 3

FEATURES• 1. Mountains - high elevations, steep

gradients, igneous and/or metamorphic rock, faults and folds

2. Plateaus – moderate relief, horizontal rock structure, sedimentary rocks or extrusive igneous flows, often dissected by many streams

Catskill Mountains – Part of Appalachian Plateau

3. Plains – low elevation, sedimentary rocks, generally level

Escarpmentsteep slope or long cliff that occurs from falting and resulting erosion; separate level areas of different elevations

Factors Affecting Landscapes

1. Uplift and Leveling Forces – Uplift – building up of land (mountains) -

plate tectonic forces– Leveling – weathering, erosion and

subsidence

2. Climate

Temperature and moisture and amount of vegetation

a. Arid – steep slopes and sharp and angular features

b. Humid – smoother and more rounded features

3. Bedrock

Related to hardness and resistance to weathering

- hard rock – weathers more slowly, steeper cliffs

- soft rock – weathers easily (quicker), gentle slopes

Which layers are more resistant to weathering?

4. Time

a. Young – uplift, fast streams, V-shaped valleys, steep slopes

b. Mature – low rounded hills, broad flat valleys, meanders and flood plains

c. Old – erosion almost to sea level

5. Human Activities

A. Land stripped of vegetation

B. Building of roads

C. Cities

D. Building of new homes

STREAM DRAINAGE PATTERNS

• Dendritic - horizontal rock layers, plains and plateaus

• Radial – radiate out from a single point, volcano or a single peak

• Annular - A ring-like pattern associated with maturely dissected dome or basin structures

• Rectangular – strongly jointed and faulted

• Trellis – rocks with different hardness, faulted and folded, valleys and ridges

STREAM DRAINAGE PATTERNS