Landscapes and Landscapes and LandformsLandforms

What is a Landscape?What is a Landscape?

A landscape is a region on Earth’s surface in A landscape is a region on Earth’s surface in which various landforms, such as hills, which various landforms, such as hills, valleys, and streams, are related by a common valleys, and streams, are related by a common origin.origin.

Landscapes are formed through the process of Landscapes are formed through the process of weathering, erosion and deposition.weathering, erosion and deposition.

What Determines the Topography of What Determines the Topography of the Landscapes?the Landscapes?

The shape, or topography, and composition of The shape, or topography, and composition of the landscape are determined by the climate, the landscape are determined by the climate, local bedrock, geologic structures, and human local bedrock, geologic structures, and human activities.activities.

How Does Climate Influence How Does Climate Influence Landscapes?Landscapes?

Humid climates support the growth of plants Humid climates support the growth of plants and the development of mature soils.and the development of mature soils.

Plant cover protects the soil from rapid runoff Plant cover protects the soil from rapid runoff and erosion.and erosion.

Landscapes in moist climates are characteristic Landscapes in moist climates are characteristic of rounded slopes and hills.of rounded slopes and hills.

How Does Climate Influence How Does Climate Influence Landscapes?Landscapes?

Arid climates generally support little growth of plants Arid climates generally support little growth of plants and produce thin soils.and produce thin soils.

While rain is infrequent in desert areas, it often comes While rain is infrequent in desert areas, it often comes down hard when it does rain.down hard when it does rain.

Insufficient plant cover allows for rapid runoff and Insufficient plant cover allows for rapid runoff and erosion of sediments.erosion of sediments.

Large areas of exposed bedrock and steep rock faces Large areas of exposed bedrock and steep rock faces are the result.are the result.

Landscapes in arid climates are characteristic of steep Landscapes in arid climates are characteristic of steep slopes and sharp angles of rock material.slopes and sharp angles of rock material.

How Do Geologic Factors Influence How Do Geologic Factors Influence the Landscape?the Landscape?

Rocks that are durable resist weathering and Rocks that are durable resist weathering and erosion.erosion.

Durable rocks form the higher relief Durable rocks form the higher relief landscapes, such as mountains, plateaus, and landscapes, such as mountains, plateaus, and escarpments (cliffs).escarpments (cliffs).

The softer rocks weather and erode faster The softer rocks weather and erode faster forming the lower relief landscapes of plains forming the lower relief landscapes of plains and lowlands. and lowlands.

Mount Marcy, NY

Allegheny Plateau

St. Lawrence Lowlands (Plains)

How Landscape Affects Drainage How Landscape Affects Drainage PatternsPatterns

Drainage patterns are determined by the way Drainage patterns are determined by the way small streams or tributaries join to form larger small streams or tributaries join to form larger streams.streams.

If the bedrock is uniform or made of flat-lying If the bedrock is uniform or made of flat-lying layers, a branching drainage pattern forms, layers, a branching drainage pattern forms, which is called which is called dendriticdendritic. .

If two very different rock types occur in the If two very different rock types occur in the same area, the harder rocks will form the hills same area, the harder rocks will form the hills and ridges.and ridges.

Radial Drainage Pattern