unit 2 introductory presentation

This work is supported by the National Science Foundation’s Transforming Undergraduate Education in STEM program within the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (DUE-1245025).

SURFACE PROCESS HAZARDS: UNIT 2

Sarah Hall, College of the AtlanticBecca Walker, Mt. San Antonio College

GEOMORPHOLOGY

What does this word mean? Pull it apart:

GEO: Earth MORPH: form or shape

OLOGY: the study of

So “geomorphology” is the study of the shape of the earth: landscapes and land-shaping

processes.

SALT LAKE CITY, UT

Compare the “morphology” of the eastern and western portions of this map

GEOMORPHOLOGY

Take a minute to discuss with the person next to you: 1. What are some characteristics of

different landscapes? Take note of the vocabulary you are using to compare landscapes.

2. What are some common processes that form and re-shape landscapes?

WHAT’S THE DEFINITION OF RELIEF?

Relief: relief refers to the difference between the highest and lowest elevation in a given area. High relief areas are characterized by generally steep terrain while low-relief areas are generally flat with subdued topography. In high relief areas rivers tend to be fast moving and confined to narrow drainages while in low relief areas rivers tend to meander over wider floodplains.

RELIEF

“Total relief:”Difference between the highest and lowest elevation on a map.

Topographic Map of Mt. Desert Island (MDI) , ME

Cadillac Mountain: 1528’ a.m.s.l

RELIEF

“High relief” areas:Generally steep or high-slope areas where there are large changes in elevation over short distances.

Topographic Map of Mt. Desert Island (MDI) , ME

Contour lines are closely spaced on map, landscape features include steep valleys, shear cliffs, faster flowing streams, and exposed bedrock peaks.

“HIGH RELIEF” AREA ON MDI

Topographic Map of Mt. Desert Island, ME

View NE from Beech Cliffs

“HIGH RELIEF” LANDSCAPESMountainous topography, steep slopes, jagged peaks, shear cliffs, alpine glaciers

Kenai Peninsula, AK

Kenai Peninsula, AK

Cordillera Blanca, Peru

Cordillera Blanca, Peru

Cordillera Blanca, Peru

RELIEF

“Low Relief” Areas:Generally flat or low-slope areas where there is little change in elevation over long distances.

Topographic Map of Mt. Desert Island (MDI), ME

“LOW RELIEF” AREAS ON MDI

Contour lines are spread out indicating fairly flat topography, landscape features include wetlands, low hills, gently sloping beaches, slower flowing streams.

View SW from Seawall BeachTopographic Map of Mt. Desert Island, ME

“LOW RELIEF” LANDSCAPES

Flat topography, deserts, wetlands, lakes, big sky

Death Valley, CA

Atacama Desert, Peru

Southern Wyoming

LIDAR: LIGHT DETECTION AND RANGING“Hillshade image” of Mt. Desert Island generated from the lidar data digital elevation model (DEM)

Also check out: http://lidar.cr.usgs.gov/

LIDAR-based Hillshade Image of Mt. Desert Island (MDI), ME

LIDAR DATA ACQUISITION

Airborne

Ground-based

FINDING LANDSCAPE FEATURES IN DEM HILLSHADE IMAGESMt. St. Helens

Aerial Imagery Hillshade DEM Image

FINDING LANDSCAPE FEATURES IN DEM HILLSHADE IMAGESMt. St. Helens and surrounding area (lakes, rivers, etc.) Aerial Imagery

Hillshade DEM Image

ANNOTATED MAPS OF MT. ST. HELENSDrainage networks, lakes, ridges, floodplains, volcanoes

Aerial Image

Hillshade DEM

Landscape Features