Download Mountains

Aim: How are landscapes defined?
Do Now: Try to define the following
vocabulary terms in your own words or try
to give descriptions of what these
landscapes look like.
1) Plains
2) Plateau
3) Mountain
I. Landscapes (Regions):
Landscape – an area on Earth’s surface that
has been affected by uplifting and
weathering/erosional forces.
Great Plains, Nebraska
Canadian Rocky Mountain Park, British Columbia
Dynamic Equilibrium
No change occurs because opposite forces
are equal.
Landscapes: Erosion = Uplifting
Water Cycle: Precipitation = Evaporation
Can you think of any other
situations that are in DYNAMIC
EQUILIBRIUM?
Words You Should Know
Relief
Elevation of an area
Gradient
Steepness of the land
Try this: A hiker climbs
to the top of a mountain
and covers a distance of
2.3km. The hiker started
at an elevation of 400m
and ended at an
elevation of 980m. What
is the gradient of the
mountain?
Gradient = Change in field value
distance
Matterhorn, Switzerland
a) Mountains – the greatest relief,
and steepest slopes.
-Metamorphic rock
Matterhorn, Switzerland
b) Plateau – flat elevated land
with deep valleys cut by streams.
- Horizontal sedimentary rock
Colorado Plateau
c) Plains – least
topographic relief.
Great Plains, USA
II. Climate and Landscapes
1. The amount and distribution of precipitation
influence landscape characteristics.
Very Wet
Wet
Moderate
Dry
A) Wet climate
mountains have
rounded peaks
and show
gentle slopes.
How do the mountains
on the East Coast
compare to the
mountains on the
B)West
AridCoast
(dry)of the
United States?
climate
mountains have
pointed peaks
and steeper
slopes.
Appalachian Mountains, East Coast United States
Rocky Mountains, West Coast United States
2. The composition of the rock influences
landscapes.
A) Strong (durable or competent) rock does
not erode easily and forms steeper slopes
- escarpments (cliffs), are created by durable
rocks
B) Softer rock erodes faster forming
gentle slopes
Banks of Yellow River, China
III. Drainage Patterns
- mimic the landscape they form in.
- follows the elevation and contour of the land.
- Starts as small streams and tributaries and
ends in rivers.
= Plains
= Plateau
= Mountains
Closure:
1)Take the worksheet from the back
table.
2) You and your partner should work on
the FRONT SIDE of the worksheet
together.
ESRT page 2 and 3