Physical Processes: Physical Processes: Mrs. Comeros Science

The surface of the earth is made up of many different landforms. A landform is a natural shape and type of land on Earth’s surface. Earth’s Surface:

U-shaped Valley Valley V-shaped Valley Valley Cave Atoll

Lets Think!!! Does Earth’s surface ever change? What causes those changes? Why? How? Examples?

Physical Processes: Earth’s surface is constantly changing. Different natural events, such as earthquakes and volcanoes, change the size and shape of landforms. These events are known as physical processes.

Example: Mt. Saint Helens (1980) Before After

Example: Earthquake/Tsunami in Japan Before After

Mountain Definition: A natural rise of the earth with steep sides. Mountains are formed when plates collide and the land buckles upwards.

Earthquake Definition: Occur when two of the earth’s plates move causing vibrations, or shaking to occur.

Bam, Iran 12/26/2003

Volcano Definition: An opening in the earth’s crust from which lava flows.

Mt. St. Helens 5/18/1980

Weathering and Erosion

Weathering Definition: The wearing away of a surface through weather conditions, such as wind, rain or ice.

Mrs. Degl18 Mount Rushmore There is a pile of weathered material at the bottom. It is slowly being eroded down hill by gravity. It will not be there forever!!

Erosion Definition: A process that breaks rocks down into tiny pieces and moves them to another location.

Erosion: The Grand Canyon was formed by erosion.

Running Water

Wind Erosion

Glaciers

U-Shaped Valleys Formed when a glacier erodes a river valley from its original V shape to a U shape Continue

V-shaped valley U- shaped valley

Mass Movements Gravity Landslides, mudslides, slump and creep landslide clip.mpeg

Wave Erosion

Beach Erosion

Sea Arch

Sea Arches

Definition: An overflow of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding is often caused by heavy rains. Flooding

Overflowing rivers add nutrients to the surrounding soil. If the Mississippi River were to flood, there would be an increase in fertile soil in the MS River Valley. Flooding

Deposition Deposition is the process in which sediment laid down in new locations. Caused by water, wind, ice, and gravity.

Deposition Type of DepositionCreatesPicture WindSand Dune Water *Waves *River *Beaches *Delta IceMoraine GravityLandslide, Slump, Creep

What is a delta? delta -- a place at the river's mouth, where the river splits into many different sections, forming a marshy triangle

What is a river mouth ? river mouth -- the place where a river empties into a larger body of water

Mrs. Degl44 Delta – a fan shaped deposit that forms at the mouth of a river/stream when it enters a larger body of water. This is seen under the water. The particles are horizontally sorted.

What is a moraine? moraine* -- An accumulation of boulders, stones, or other debris carried and deposited by a glacier

Check for Understanding: 1.What creates new landforms? a)Earthquakes b)Volcanoes c)Erosion d)All of the Above

Check for Understanding: 2.Which of these does not cause weathering? a)sunshine b)wind c)rain d)ice

Check for Understanding: 3.Which United States landform was most likely caused by erosion? a)The Great Lakes b)The Mississippi River c)The Rocky Mountains d)The Grand Canyon

Check for Understanding: 4.Which physical process most likely formed the Great Smoky Mountains? a)Flooding rivers b)Erupting volcanoes c)Plate tectonics d)Wind erosion

Check for Understanding: 5.Which physical process most likely causes a river to overflow, adding nutrients to the local soil? a)Heavy rains b)Volcanic eruptions c)Strong Winds d)Melting Snow

Check for Understanding: 6.Which physical process most likely shaped the feature shown? a)Plate tectonics b)Volcanic eruptions c)Water erosion d)Coastal flooding

Check for Understanding: 7.Which physical process most likely created the mountain range shown on the map? a)erosion b)flooding c)plate tectonics d)volcanic eruptions