Chapter 2 Section 1: Exploring Earth’s Surface Key Terms Plateau Topography Landform region Key concepts Elevation Relief What does the topography of an area include? Landform Plain What are the main types of landforms? Mountain Mountain range
Topography Topography is the shape of the land. It includes the area’s elevation, relief, and landforms. Elevation is the height above sea level of a certain point on earth’s surface. Relief is the difference in elevation between the highest and lowest parts of an area. A landform is a feature of topography, such as a hill or valley, formed by the processes that shape the earth’s surface. FYI: If someone were to ask you what a landform is, you must be able to provide the definition, not just an example (i.e. writing “a hill or a valley” is not a complete answer)
Types of Landforms There are 3 main types: plains, mountains, and plateaus. Plains A plain is a landform made up of nearly flat or gently rolling land with low relief. Examples: The Great Plains, coastal plains Mountains A mountain is a landform with high elevation and high relief. A mountain range is a group of mountains closely related in shape, structure, and age. Example: Bitteroot Mountain range inside the Rocky Mountains
More landforms Plateaus Landform regions: A landform that has a high elevation and a more or less level surface is called a plateau. Example: Columbia Plateau Landform regions: A landform region is a large area of land where the topography is mostly made of one type of landform.
What you need to know about topography Topography is the shape of the land. The land is reshaped by the weathering of rock and soil and by the transportation and deposition of sediment. This happens from the constructive and destructive forces we mentioned in chapter 1.
A couple of ways that land gets reshaped: water running downhill is the dominant process in shaping the landscape, including California’s landscape. rivers and streams are dynamic systems that erode, transport sediment, change course, and flood their banks in natural and recurring patterns.
beaches are dynamic systems in which the sand is supplied by rivers and moved along the coast by the action of waves. These kinds of land changes can also be created by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and floods. When this happens, it can quickly change human and wildlife habitats.