UNIT XII: EROSION, DEPOSITION, AND LANDSCAPES NOTE …...NYS Regents Earth Science Erosion, Deposition, and Landscapes Note Packet 9 | P a g e Long Shore Current Long shore currents

NYS Regents Earth Science Erosion, Deposition, and Landscapes Note Packet

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UNIT XII: EROSION, DEPOSITION, AND

LANDSCAPES

NOTE PACKET

Picture: The Adirondack Mountains in

northern New York State. Most rocks

found here are metamorphic and igneous

in origin, some over 1 billion years old.


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Tying it together…

You now have had significant experience learning about the variety of ways rocks

form, and some unique formations associated with the study of plate tectonics.

You are most familiar with what are known as uplifting forces. For example, the

contribution of plate convergence to volcanic mountain ranges. New crust is

formed, old crust is recycled back into the Earth. The focus of this unit seeks to

broaden your understanding of leveling forces, those which contribute to

wearing away of materials on the Earth’s surface.

Our weathering unit taught us that rocks can be broken down by both physical and chemical means based on climate and

bedrock type. Understanding how Earth materials erode, becomes the next step in truly understanding the dynamic nature of

landscapes.

What is erosion?

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There are 5 distinct agents of erosion:

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Erosion in moving water varies greatly within a river, and between rivers. Lighter,

less dense sediment is first to be transported by moving water.

Transport of Sediments in Streams

Sediment transport is dependent on 2 variables:

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Describing Rock Particle Size

Rock Particles are categorized into 6 types:

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*Dissolved minerals are also transported, although they are not visible

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Sediment Transport Chart

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If water velocity falls below that level, sediment is deposited

on the bottom of the river

Using the Chart

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Water Velocity and Stream Morphology

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Water Velocity and Stream Morphology

Water, for the most part, flows in a straight line and will do so until redirected by the

stream channel. Water also over time dictates how the channel changes.

Because this is true, rivers have different channel shapes at different

locations

In a straight line path, rivers are fastest in the middle, leaving a channel

deepest in the center

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Stream Meanders

Over time, erosion at the outside of the bend causes the stream channel to drift. When the old channel is

cut off, an oxbow lake is formed.

Sorting of Sediments

Faster moving water transports smaller sediments

Therefore, a stream bottom will have larger particles on the bottom in faster moving water and

smaller particles on the bottom in slower moving water

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Rivers Entering Lakes and Oceans

The deposition of sediments at the mouth of a river results in the formation of a delta

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Stream Valley Shape

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Drainage Patterns

Looking at maps and examining rivers often tells us something about the rock strata beneath. Stream drainage patterns are

dictated by:

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Differences in Elevation

Higher elevations with steep slopes result in deep ‘V’ shaped valleys

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Drainage Topography in Arid Regions

Weathering in dry regions is generally a very slow process. The majority of

weathering and erosion takes place in the river channel.

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Drainage Topography in Humid Regions

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Common occurrence in NYS

Drainage Topography

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Mate these with an overhead pattern

Glaciers

New York State owes its many unique landforms to the presence of glaciers in the past. Evidence of repeated glacial events

surrounds us in western New York. Glaciers are responsible for both erosional and depositional features.

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Types of Glaciers

For our purposes, there are 2 types of glaciers that we are concerned with:

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Glacial Presence in NYS

A massive glacier covered New York (most recently around 10,000 years ago), and it is important to understand how

it shaped landforms in the area

Glacial Weathering

Abrasion is the dominant form of weathering underneath a glacier

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Glacial Erosion

As glaciers erode a valley, they leave evidence of having been there

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Finger Lakes

Glacial erosion can leave behind a variety of observable features

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Drumlins

Elongated hills called drumlins are also found in

areas that have undergone glaciation

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Erratics

Large boulders that do not match local bedrock type or are found in awkward elevations or places were likely transported

there by a glacier

Eskers

Long, winding hills of sediment deposited by streams beneath a glacier

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Kames

Rocky debris that is deposited in crevasses within a glacier to form a hill

Kettle Lakes

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Moraines

Moraines are long hills that are composed of material that a glacier

has pushed or pulled along

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Outwash Plain

An outwash plain is where many streams (or just a few) flow out of

the glacier as it melts. The plain is relatively flat with sorted and

rounded sediments due to abrasion in the streams

Cirques, Aretes, Horns

All features found in mountainous areas once covered by glaciers

Horn: Sharp point at mountain peak

Cirque: Bowl-shaped depression caused by abrasion

Arete: Sharp ridge carved out of the mountainside

Wind Erosion and Weathering

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Wind Deposition

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Wave Erosion and Weathering

Abrasion is the dominant form of weathering along beaches

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Long Shore Current

Long shore currents flow parallel to the beach. This flow steadily drags sediments along the shore in what is called long shore

drift.

Mass Movement

The final, though less substantial type of erosion is called mass movement.

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Landslide

Landslide is a commonly used term for the movement of a mass of bedrock or loose soil and rock down the slope of a hill,

mountain or cliff.

Creep

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Slump

Blocks of land that have tilted and moved downhill along a surface that curves into the slope

Mudslides/Flows

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Weathering, erosion, deposition, plate tectonics, folding and faulting all contribute to the beautiful landscapes around us,

many of which can be found in New York.

Landscapes Features of NYS

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Mountains

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NYS Example: Mount Marcy (Adirondack Mountains)

The Adirondack Mountains are part of an area which has been uplifted and domed upward and continues to do so. They are

not volcanic in origin and are comprised mostly of metamorphic and intrusive igneous rocks.

Other Types of Mountains

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Plateau

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NYS Example: Allegheny Plateau

Plains

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Example: Erie-Ontario Lowlands

Valleys

Valleys can be formed from erosion by rivers, glaciers, in between folds in bedrock, or where a fault block has fallen down.

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Ridges

A chain of mountains or hills that form a crest for some distance


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Escarpments

Escarpments are long cliffs formed by erosion or faulting

Land is relatively flat on either side

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NYS Landscape Map

Use this map to identify major

landscape regions in NYS

For example: Which landscape

region is Rochester located in?

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//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Niagara-Escarpment-Winter-IMG_0626.JPG

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UNIT XII: EROSION, DEPOSITION, AND LANDSCAPES NOTE …...NYS Regents Earth Science Erosion, Deposition, and Landscapes Note Packet 9 | P a g e Long Shore Current Long shore currents