The document provides an overview of Big Bend National Park in Texas, describing key landforms and geological features along a proposed virtual field trip route. It begins with background on the park's tectonic history and formation. Stops covered include the Panther Junction Visitor Center, Cattail Falls, The Window, Blue Creek Canyon, Burro Mesa Pour-off, Santa Elena Canyon, and Boquillas Canyon. For each stop, it highlights prominent geological features and processes like waterfalls, faults, river terraces, and cave formation through limestone dissolution. Diagrams and photos illustrate concepts like hydraulic jumps, exfoliation, and fluvial landforms like meanders and point bars shaped by the Rio Grande
The document discusses various concepts related to plate tectonics and volcanic landforms. It describes plate tectonics theory including evidence for seafloor spreading and subduction. It also discusses plate boundaries, mechanisms of volcanism, types of volcanic landforms such as shield volcanoes and calderas, and volcanic hazards.
The document provides an overview of the geomorphology and landforms of the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. It describes how the sand dunes were formed through erosion of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains by frost weathering, mass wasting, and fluvial erosion. Sediment is transported by rivers to the valley floor and by wind to the east side of the valley where the dunes accumulate. Over millions of years, the ongoing rifting of the Rio Grande Valley will destroy the dunes as the mountains erode away. Currently the dunes are sustained through cycles of building by wind and erosion by creek waters.
The Great Sand Dunes in Colorado are the largest dunes in North America, rising up to 750 feet high. They are formed by sand deposited by winds blowing from the San Juan Mountains and trapped by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Loose sediments, strong winds, the mountain trap, and creeks controlling expansion have built up the dunes over thousands of years. In the future, erosion of the Rocky Mountains by the Rio Grande Rift will destroy the dunes as wind patterns change.
Glaciers significantly modify landscapes through erosion as ice mass moves and grinds the underlying terrain. During the Pleistocene ice age, approximately one third of the earth's land was covered in ice sheets. Glaciers form from accumulated snow transforming into ice under pressure and move via sliding and basal slip, aided by meltwater. Their erosive work includes quarrying, abrasion, and plucking of material which is then transported and deposited by the glacier or in meltwater landforms. Continental ice sheets and mountain glaciers each produce distinct landforms through these glacial processes. The causes of past ice ages like the Pleistocene remain theorized but likely involve changes in climate and atmospheric conditions.
This document provides an overview of different types of landforms and the geological processes that form them. It discusses lithological landforms such as volcanic features like lava fields, craters, and plateaus. Karst landforms like caves and stalactites/stalagmites are formed by the dissolution of limestone. Climate landforms include glacial features from alpine glaciers and periglacial features in dry temperate zones. Structural landforms are related to rock structures. Coastal landforms result from erosion and deposition by sea processes and include cliffs, arches, lagoons, and marshes. For each landform type, examples of specific features are given along with the geological agents and processes responsible
Boon et al 2015 Geomorphology 248 pp296-310David Boon
ย
The document describes a landslide that occurred on the Jurassic Escarpment in Great Fryup Dale, North Yorkshire, UK. A combined geomorphological mapping, LiDAR, borehole, and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) approach was used to characterize the landslide. The landslide involved the failure of around 1 million cubic meters of bedrock, displacing it up to 50 meters deep. Radiocarbon dating indicates the frontal mudflow area was last active around 2270 years ago in the Late Holocene. While currently dormant, slope stability modeling suggests the slope is less stable than assumed and could reactivate during future wet climate phases, posing a landslide hazard for the region.
The document summarizes internal geological processes and their impact on landscape formation. It describes plate tectonics theory and discusses evidence that supports it, including seafloor spreading and paleomagnetism. It also explains types of volcanic activity and mountains, as well as other deformation processes like folding and faulting that reshape the Earth's crust over time. The complex interplay of these internal forces continually modifies the planet's surface features.
The document discusses various concepts related to plate tectonics and volcanic landforms. It describes plate tectonics theory including evidence for seafloor spreading and subduction. It also discusses plate boundaries, mechanisms of volcanism, types of volcanic landforms such as shield volcanoes and calderas, and volcanic hazards.
The document provides an overview of the geomorphology and landforms of the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. It describes how the sand dunes were formed through erosion of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains by frost weathering, mass wasting, and fluvial erosion. Sediment is transported by rivers to the valley floor and by wind to the east side of the valley where the dunes accumulate. Over millions of years, the ongoing rifting of the Rio Grande Valley will destroy the dunes as the mountains erode away. Currently the dunes are sustained through cycles of building by wind and erosion by creek waters.
The Great Sand Dunes in Colorado are the largest dunes in North America, rising up to 750 feet high. They are formed by sand deposited by winds blowing from the San Juan Mountains and trapped by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Loose sediments, strong winds, the mountain trap, and creeks controlling expansion have built up the dunes over thousands of years. In the future, erosion of the Rocky Mountains by the Rio Grande Rift will destroy the dunes as wind patterns change.
Glaciers significantly modify landscapes through erosion as ice mass moves and grinds the underlying terrain. During the Pleistocene ice age, approximately one third of the earth's land was covered in ice sheets. Glaciers form from accumulated snow transforming into ice under pressure and move via sliding and basal slip, aided by meltwater. Their erosive work includes quarrying, abrasion, and plucking of material which is then transported and deposited by the glacier or in meltwater landforms. Continental ice sheets and mountain glaciers each produce distinct landforms through these glacial processes. The causes of past ice ages like the Pleistocene remain theorized but likely involve changes in climate and atmospheric conditions.
This document provides an overview of different types of landforms and the geological processes that form them. It discusses lithological landforms such as volcanic features like lava fields, craters, and plateaus. Karst landforms like caves and stalactites/stalagmites are formed by the dissolution of limestone. Climate landforms include glacial features from alpine glaciers and periglacial features in dry temperate zones. Structural landforms are related to rock structures. Coastal landforms result from erosion and deposition by sea processes and include cliffs, arches, lagoons, and marshes. For each landform type, examples of specific features are given along with the geological agents and processes responsible
Boon et al 2015 Geomorphology 248 pp296-310David Boon
ย
The document describes a landslide that occurred on the Jurassic Escarpment in Great Fryup Dale, North Yorkshire, UK. A combined geomorphological mapping, LiDAR, borehole, and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) approach was used to characterize the landslide. The landslide involved the failure of around 1 million cubic meters of bedrock, displacing it up to 50 meters deep. Radiocarbon dating indicates the frontal mudflow area was last active around 2270 years ago in the Late Holocene. While currently dormant, slope stability modeling suggests the slope is less stable than assumed and could reactivate during future wet climate phases, posing a landslide hazard for the region.
The document summarizes internal geological processes and their impact on landscape formation. It describes plate tectonics theory and discusses evidence that supports it, including seafloor spreading and paleomagnetism. It also explains types of volcanic activity and mountains, as well as other deformation processes like folding and faulting that reshape the Earth's crust over time. The complex interplay of these internal forces continually modifies the planet's surface features.
The document discusses karst and hydrothermal processes. It describes how solution processes can dissolve rocks underground and form features like caverns, sinkholes, and disrupted drainage patterns on the surface. This can result in karst topography. Hydrothermal features like hot springs, geysers, and fumaroles are also discussed, and are caused by hot water and steam rising from underground sources. Specific examples of these features in Yellowstone National Park are provided.
The document summarizes the topography of arid lands. It describes ten characteristics of desert terrain including sparse vegetation, thin soils, and impermeable surfaces. Running water is the most important landforming mechanism, causing erosion during flash floods. Surface water exists ephemerally in streams and salt lakes. Wind also shapes arid landscapes through aeolian erosion and deposition. There are two primary desert landform assemblages - basin and range consisting of mountains and interior basins, and mesa and scarp consisting of flat tablelands and steep escarpments.
The document summarizes coastal processes and landforms. It discusses how waves, currents, tides, and sea level changes sculpt coastal regions. It also describes various coastal landforms that result from erosion and deposition, including beaches, spits, barrier islands, and lagoons. Coastal zones experience highly energetic conditions due to constant interactions between land, ocean, and atmosphere.
The document summarizes the geologic features and history observed in Big Bend National Park based on field mapping. During the Cretaceous period, limestone formations like the Santa Elena were deposited in the region as sea levels rose and fell. These formations were later folded and faulted during the Laramide Orogeny as the Farallon plate collided with North America. Normal faults and igneous intrusions were also observed that provided insight into the tectonic activity after deposition and folding of the layers. Analysis of the rock units, fossils, and structural features helps reconstruct the geologic changes in the area over the past 100 million years.
Fluvial processes shape the landscape through erosion and deposition by streams and rivers. Valleys and drainage basins form as streams carve out pathways and join together. Stream channels develop patterns based on factors like geology and slope. Streams continuously work to widen and deepen valleys while transporting and depositing sediment. This sculpting of the landscape is described through theories of landform development related to variables such as crustal movement and base level.
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado was formed over millions of years by erosion of ancient metamorphic rock layers by the Gunnison River. Approximately 2 billion years ago, the core of the canyon was formed from gneiss and schist rock layers that experienced heat and pressure. Continental collisions further uplifted the region around 5 million years ago. The Gunnison River then slowly eroded through the hardened metamorphic rocks to carve out the steep walls of the V-shaped Black Canyon over 2 million years.
Mountains form through intense deformation of the earth's crust from horizontal stresses and intrusion of molten rock. They are created through the process of orogenesis, which involves the accumulation of sediments in a subsiding geosyncline that are later compressed into folded mountains. Appalachian Mountains were formed in this way, with the geosynclinal theory of mountain building involving sedimentation, compression, deformation, uplift and erosion in a three-phase cycle. Mountains are classified geographically, structurally, and by their origins as folded, volcanic, fault-block, or upwarped mountains. Plateaus form from crustal deformation or volcanism and have high relief compared to plains, with economic uses including reservoirs,
Erosion shapes the land in different ways depending on the agent of erosion:
Rivers erode valleys by carrying away eroded material downstream. Over long periods of time this can carve deep V-shaped valleys. Fast flowing water is very erosive and can undercut cliffs/banks causing collapse. Meanders are formed as the river erodes the outside of bends more than the inside.
Glacial erosion grinds away rock as ice flows under its own weight. Glaciers pick up and carry rock fragments, abrading the land beneath. This forms U-shaped valleys with steep sides. Cirques, arรชtes and horn peaks are characteristic landforms of glacial erosion.
Sea waves
The physical environment chapter discusses the components that make up Earth's physical environment: land, air, water, and the living environment. It describes key landforms like mountains and rivers, as well as geological processes that create and modify landforms such as plate tectonics, folding, volcanism, and erosion. Weathering and erosion by forces such as water, wind, and plant growth gradually break rocks into sediment and transport material from one place to another over long periods of time, shaping the surface of the planet. Human activities and settlement patterns are also influenced by landforms and geological characteristics of different regions.
Landforms thislandisourland-111022123136-phpapp01Erika Edgar
ย
This document discusses different landforms found on Earth. It describes landforms that are found on continents, such as mountains, canyons, hills and valleys, as well as undersea landforms like seamounts, trenches, and ridges. It explains how landforms are created by both constructive forces that build up land through processes like plate tectonics, and destructive forces like weathering and erosion that wear down land over time. Plate tectonics and the movement of tectonic plates are key to forming many landforms at plate boundaries.
The document discusses the land features and geology of Washington state. It describes how plate tectonics and volcanic activity have shaped the landscape over millions of years. Washington is home to five major volcanoes in the Cascade Range, which were formed by the convergence of the North American and Juan de Fuca tectonic plates. Notable eruptions include those of Mount St. Helens in 1980. The movement of plates and eruption of lava have created terrain such as mountain ranges and flood basalts, as well as valuable mineral resources in the region.
13 mysteries of nature and geological wonders shiva prasad
ย
This document provides summaries of 13 geological mysteries and wonders around the world, including The Wave rock formation between Arizona and Utah, Antelope Canyon in Arizona known for its narrow sandstone slots, the Great Blue Hole off the coast of Belize which is a large underwater sinkhole, and the Hell Gate in Uzbekistan which has been burning natural gas that was ignited after a drilling accident. Other sights mentioned include the Giant's Causeway in Ireland composed of unusual hexagonal basalt columns, Wave Rock in Australia shaped like a breaking ocean wave, the Chocolate Hills of Bohol in the Philippines formed from limestone, and the Bermuda Triangle where some ships and planes have disappeared.
This document provides a summary of the geology of the Burren region in County Clare, Ireland. It describes the various rock formations, from the sedimentary rocks and shale cliffs at Moher to the exposed limestone terraces further north. It explains how the unique karst landscape formed over millions of years and discusses how the geology influences the environment, flora, and fauna of the area. It also examines how human activities have shaped the region over time through practices like livestock grazing and fuel collection. The document aims to establish the geological framework of the Burren and explore the environmental impacts of the distribution of different rock types in the area.
This document provides a guide to the geology of Central Park in New York City. It is divided into three sections. Section one describes the building stones used in park structures. Section two examines bedrock outcroppings, showing evidence of NYC's tectonic history over billions of years. Section three inspects evidence left behind by glaciers, including striations and erratic boulders deposited during the last ice age. Stops around the park are detailed, identifying rock types and geological features formed by metamorphism, intrusions, erosion and glaciation.
The document discusses various geological formations around the world. It provides details on the composition, age, formation processes and other characteristics of formations like The Wave in Utah, The Door to Hell in Uzbekistan, Antelope Canyon in Arizona, Pamukkale in Turkey, and The Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. The formations were shaped by a variety of geological forces over millions of years.
Volcanic landforms are formed by volcanic activity and include features like volcanoes. Cinder cones are small cones formed from strombolian eruptions consisting of basaltic to andesitic material. Shield volcanoes have gentle upper slopes and steeper lower slopes formed by low-viscosity basaltic lava flows. Stratovolcanoes have steeper slopes than shield volcanoes due to layers of lava and pyroclastic material. Calderas are large depressions formed by collapse of volcanic structures. Artificial islands are human-made landforms constructed rather than formed naturally.
Review of concepts of earth science including river delta, earthquakes, subduction, tsunami, volcanoes, two sunken cities, fossil fuels, clean energy, water use and protection, properties of water.
The document summarizes key aspects of the hydrologic cycle and Earth's water systems. It describes the hydrologic cycle as a series of interconnected water storage areas and transfer processes. It discusses the oceans, which contain over 97% of Earth's water, and how ocean waters vary in salinity, temperature, and density around the world. It also outlines various freshwater storage areas like lakes, rivers, groundwater, and glaciers, and how humans have impacted some of these systems through activities like irrigation and groundwater extraction.
The document describes various landforms created by different geologic processes. It discusses weathering and erosion landforms such as hoodoos, badlands, and karst topography formed by water or ice. Fluvial landforms created by river processes are also described like meanders, oxbow lakes, deltas, and estuaries. Coastal landforms from erosive and sedimentary processes include cliffs, arches, beaches, sand dunes, lagoons and salt marshes. Volcanic and plutonic landforms such as lava flows, stratovolcanoes, tors and pitons are also listed.
Katie Eckleberry traveled with her family to Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. She was amazed by the beautiful rock formations and had questions about how they formed and their composition. The hoodoos at Bryce Canyon are carved from limestone, siltstone, dolomite and mudstone, which erode at different rates. Frost wedging from freezing and thawing caused the rocks to break apart. Water running through the joints carried away the smaller pieces, slowly forming the canyon over 65 million years.
Katie traveled to Arizona and Utah with her grandparents and visited several national parks and forests, including Bryce Canyon. Bryce Canyon features many vibrantly colored rock formations carved by erosion from water freezing and thawing in cracks in the rock. The pink color comes from iron particles in the rock rusting when exposed to air. It took 65 million years for wind and water to sculpt Bryce Canyon into its amazing spires and arches.
The document discusses karst and hydrothermal processes. It describes how solution processes can dissolve rocks underground and form features like caverns, sinkholes, and disrupted drainage patterns on the surface. This can result in karst topography. Hydrothermal features like hot springs, geysers, and fumaroles are also discussed, and are caused by hot water and steam rising from underground sources. Specific examples of these features in Yellowstone National Park are provided.
The document summarizes the topography of arid lands. It describes ten characteristics of desert terrain including sparse vegetation, thin soils, and impermeable surfaces. Running water is the most important landforming mechanism, causing erosion during flash floods. Surface water exists ephemerally in streams and salt lakes. Wind also shapes arid landscapes through aeolian erosion and deposition. There are two primary desert landform assemblages - basin and range consisting of mountains and interior basins, and mesa and scarp consisting of flat tablelands and steep escarpments.
The document summarizes coastal processes and landforms. It discusses how waves, currents, tides, and sea level changes sculpt coastal regions. It also describes various coastal landforms that result from erosion and deposition, including beaches, spits, barrier islands, and lagoons. Coastal zones experience highly energetic conditions due to constant interactions between land, ocean, and atmosphere.
The document summarizes the geologic features and history observed in Big Bend National Park based on field mapping. During the Cretaceous period, limestone formations like the Santa Elena were deposited in the region as sea levels rose and fell. These formations were later folded and faulted during the Laramide Orogeny as the Farallon plate collided with North America. Normal faults and igneous intrusions were also observed that provided insight into the tectonic activity after deposition and folding of the layers. Analysis of the rock units, fossils, and structural features helps reconstruct the geologic changes in the area over the past 100 million years.
Fluvial processes shape the landscape through erosion and deposition by streams and rivers. Valleys and drainage basins form as streams carve out pathways and join together. Stream channels develop patterns based on factors like geology and slope. Streams continuously work to widen and deepen valleys while transporting and depositing sediment. This sculpting of the landscape is described through theories of landform development related to variables such as crustal movement and base level.
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado was formed over millions of years by erosion of ancient metamorphic rock layers by the Gunnison River. Approximately 2 billion years ago, the core of the canyon was formed from gneiss and schist rock layers that experienced heat and pressure. Continental collisions further uplifted the region around 5 million years ago. The Gunnison River then slowly eroded through the hardened metamorphic rocks to carve out the steep walls of the V-shaped Black Canyon over 2 million years.
Mountains form through intense deformation of the earth's crust from horizontal stresses and intrusion of molten rock. They are created through the process of orogenesis, which involves the accumulation of sediments in a subsiding geosyncline that are later compressed into folded mountains. Appalachian Mountains were formed in this way, with the geosynclinal theory of mountain building involving sedimentation, compression, deformation, uplift and erosion in a three-phase cycle. Mountains are classified geographically, structurally, and by their origins as folded, volcanic, fault-block, or upwarped mountains. Plateaus form from crustal deformation or volcanism and have high relief compared to plains, with economic uses including reservoirs,
Erosion shapes the land in different ways depending on the agent of erosion:
Rivers erode valleys by carrying away eroded material downstream. Over long periods of time this can carve deep V-shaped valleys. Fast flowing water is very erosive and can undercut cliffs/banks causing collapse. Meanders are formed as the river erodes the outside of bends more than the inside.
Glacial erosion grinds away rock as ice flows under its own weight. Glaciers pick up and carry rock fragments, abrading the land beneath. This forms U-shaped valleys with steep sides. Cirques, arรชtes and horn peaks are characteristic landforms of glacial erosion.
Sea waves
The physical environment chapter discusses the components that make up Earth's physical environment: land, air, water, and the living environment. It describes key landforms like mountains and rivers, as well as geological processes that create and modify landforms such as plate tectonics, folding, volcanism, and erosion. Weathering and erosion by forces such as water, wind, and plant growth gradually break rocks into sediment and transport material from one place to another over long periods of time, shaping the surface of the planet. Human activities and settlement patterns are also influenced by landforms and geological characteristics of different regions.
Landforms thislandisourland-111022123136-phpapp01Erika Edgar
ย
This document discusses different landforms found on Earth. It describes landforms that are found on continents, such as mountains, canyons, hills and valleys, as well as undersea landforms like seamounts, trenches, and ridges. It explains how landforms are created by both constructive forces that build up land through processes like plate tectonics, and destructive forces like weathering and erosion that wear down land over time. Plate tectonics and the movement of tectonic plates are key to forming many landforms at plate boundaries.
The document discusses the land features and geology of Washington state. It describes how plate tectonics and volcanic activity have shaped the landscape over millions of years. Washington is home to five major volcanoes in the Cascade Range, which were formed by the convergence of the North American and Juan de Fuca tectonic plates. Notable eruptions include those of Mount St. Helens in 1980. The movement of plates and eruption of lava have created terrain such as mountain ranges and flood basalts, as well as valuable mineral resources in the region.
13 mysteries of nature and geological wonders shiva prasad
ย
This document provides summaries of 13 geological mysteries and wonders around the world, including The Wave rock formation between Arizona and Utah, Antelope Canyon in Arizona known for its narrow sandstone slots, the Great Blue Hole off the coast of Belize which is a large underwater sinkhole, and the Hell Gate in Uzbekistan which has been burning natural gas that was ignited after a drilling accident. Other sights mentioned include the Giant's Causeway in Ireland composed of unusual hexagonal basalt columns, Wave Rock in Australia shaped like a breaking ocean wave, the Chocolate Hills of Bohol in the Philippines formed from limestone, and the Bermuda Triangle where some ships and planes have disappeared.
This document provides a summary of the geology of the Burren region in County Clare, Ireland. It describes the various rock formations, from the sedimentary rocks and shale cliffs at Moher to the exposed limestone terraces further north. It explains how the unique karst landscape formed over millions of years and discusses how the geology influences the environment, flora, and fauna of the area. It also examines how human activities have shaped the region over time through practices like livestock grazing and fuel collection. The document aims to establish the geological framework of the Burren and explore the environmental impacts of the distribution of different rock types in the area.
This document provides a guide to the geology of Central Park in New York City. It is divided into three sections. Section one describes the building stones used in park structures. Section two examines bedrock outcroppings, showing evidence of NYC's tectonic history over billions of years. Section three inspects evidence left behind by glaciers, including striations and erratic boulders deposited during the last ice age. Stops around the park are detailed, identifying rock types and geological features formed by metamorphism, intrusions, erosion and glaciation.
The document discusses various geological formations around the world. It provides details on the composition, age, formation processes and other characteristics of formations like The Wave in Utah, The Door to Hell in Uzbekistan, Antelope Canyon in Arizona, Pamukkale in Turkey, and The Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. The formations were shaped by a variety of geological forces over millions of years.
Volcanic landforms are formed by volcanic activity and include features like volcanoes. Cinder cones are small cones formed from strombolian eruptions consisting of basaltic to andesitic material. Shield volcanoes have gentle upper slopes and steeper lower slopes formed by low-viscosity basaltic lava flows. Stratovolcanoes have steeper slopes than shield volcanoes due to layers of lava and pyroclastic material. Calderas are large depressions formed by collapse of volcanic structures. Artificial islands are human-made landforms constructed rather than formed naturally.
Review of concepts of earth science including river delta, earthquakes, subduction, tsunami, volcanoes, two sunken cities, fossil fuels, clean energy, water use and protection, properties of water.
The document summarizes key aspects of the hydrologic cycle and Earth's water systems. It describes the hydrologic cycle as a series of interconnected water storage areas and transfer processes. It discusses the oceans, which contain over 97% of Earth's water, and how ocean waters vary in salinity, temperature, and density around the world. It also outlines various freshwater storage areas like lakes, rivers, groundwater, and glaciers, and how humans have impacted some of these systems through activities like irrigation and groundwater extraction.
The document describes various landforms created by different geologic processes. It discusses weathering and erosion landforms such as hoodoos, badlands, and karst topography formed by water or ice. Fluvial landforms created by river processes are also described like meanders, oxbow lakes, deltas, and estuaries. Coastal landforms from erosive and sedimentary processes include cliffs, arches, beaches, sand dunes, lagoons and salt marshes. Volcanic and plutonic landforms such as lava flows, stratovolcanoes, tors and pitons are also listed.
Katie Eckleberry traveled with her family to Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. She was amazed by the beautiful rock formations and had questions about how they formed and their composition. The hoodoos at Bryce Canyon are carved from limestone, siltstone, dolomite and mudstone, which erode at different rates. Frost wedging from freezing and thawing caused the rocks to break apart. Water running through the joints carried away the smaller pieces, slowly forming the canyon over 65 million years.
Katie traveled to Arizona and Utah with her grandparents and visited several national parks and forests, including Bryce Canyon. Bryce Canyon features many vibrantly colored rock formations carved by erosion from water freezing and thawing in cracks in the rock. The pink color comes from iron particles in the rock rusting when exposed to air. It took 65 million years for wind and water to sculpt Bryce Canyon into its amazing spires and arches.
The author visited Bryce Canyon in Utah and was amazed by the beautiful rock formations. Bryce Canyon was formed by water erosion over 65 million years, as freezing water expanded in cracks and broke off pieces of limestone, siltstone, dolomite and mudstone. The pink color comes from iron particles rusting when exposed to air.
This field journal summarizes Kiran Simmons' geology field trip on October 9, 2010 and November 5-7, 2010. The October trip covered Mormon Rocks, Cinder Hill, and Fossil Falls, where Simmons observed and photographed the unique rock formations, lava flows, stream beds, and other geographic features. The November trip included locations like Mt. Whitney, Mono Lake, Panum Crater, and Manzanar internment camp, allowing Simmons to study orographic effects, shorelines, volcanic craters, and historic sites. Simmons' detailed notes and images provide a record of the important geographic features and landscapes observed during the two educational trips.
The document discusses various natural processes that shape the Earth's surface over time, including erosion, deposition, and weathering. It provides examples of different types of erosion such as water erosion, glacial erosion, and wind erosion. It also describes related landforms that result from erosion and deposition processes, such as deltas, moraines, and meanders. Various agents that cause weathering and erosion are identified, such as water, wind, ice, and plants.
Pikes Peak is composed of pink granite formed over 1 billion years ago from magma deep within the earth. It was formed in three stages: first, an early Rocky Mountain range was created and eroded; sediment was deposited and covered the area. As the land converged, it pushed the granite batholith upward, exposing it to erosion over millions of years, including glaciers, streams, and wind, carving it into the prominent peak seen today.
Rockefeller-on-Doan explores park landscape in the hand of natural and human forces. Find evidence for the rise of local bedrock, for bulldozing glacial ice and for Doan Brookโs cutting of a beloved ravine.Review the impacts of park development, including the outstanding Cleveland Cultural Gardens.ย See the recently completed Doan Brook Enhancement Project in terms of stormwater mediation and the restoration of local natural habitats.ย
Mount Mazama was a large volcano in Oregon that erupted violently 7,700 years ago, collapsing into itself and forming a large caldera that was later filled with water to create Crater Lake. The lake has extremely pure and deep blue water, being the deepest lake in the United States at nearly 2,000 feet deep. In the late 1800s, explorer William Steel advocated to have the area protected as a national park, the 6th in the US, to preserve the unique geology and beauty of Crater Lake.
The Columbia Plateau is a large intermontane region located in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Formed by volcanic eruptions between 6-16 million years ago, it is composed of basalt layers that were bent and faulted over time, resulting in a flat to rolling terrain that ranges from 200-5,000 feet in elevation. The plateau has been shaped by erosion, vegetation growth, and river incision over the millennia. Looking to the future, the plateau is expected to experience more arid conditions and decreased heights as exogenic processes continue to wear down the basalt rock.
The Grand Canyon formed through a combination of uplift of the Colorado Plateau and incision by the Colorado River. Two main theories for its formation are the Headward Erosion Theory, which involves capture of an ancestral river by upstream erosion, and the Spillover Theory, where a blocked river spilled over the plateau. Both theories have issues, and the exact timeline and mechanisms are still debated. Uplift starting around 80 million years ago drove stream capture and erosion that excavated the canyon over millions of years.
Pikes Peak formed over four main stages spanning approximately 1 billion years:
1) Batholiths of hot magma cooled to form the pink granite core 1 billion years ago.
2) Sea floor spreading created the ancestral Rocky Mountains under a warm sea.
3) Glaciation during the Pleistocene Ice Age 3 million years ago carved the peak's canyons.
4) Weathering and erosion have further shaped the mountain since exposure.
The Grand Canyon was formed over 5 million years by the Colorado River carving through layered sedimentary rock. Erosion and weathering by the river and other natural forces caused the canyon to gradually deepen over millennia as the rock layers were exposed. Today, the 277 mile long canyon reveals nearly 40 distinct rock layers that range in age from over 2 billion years old at the bottom of the canyon to about 200 million years at the rim.
The Great Sand Dunes lie in the San Luis Valley Basin between the Sangre De Cristo Mountains and the San Juan Mountains. Glacial meltwater formed Lake Alamosa, and sediments from mountain streams filled the lake bottom. As the climate changed, Lake Alamosa dried up, leaving behind a great sand sheet. Winds from the southwest then blew the sand into large dunes piled against the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. The dunes continue to change shape as the prevailing winds vary in direction.
This document provides an overview of Acadia National Park located in Maine. It describes the park's location on Mount Desert Island along the Atlantic coast. The terrain was largely shaped by glacial activity over millions of years, which carved out fjords, lakes, and mountains. The park has a variety of wildlife and was established in 1916 to preserve the area's natural beauty. Notable landmarks within the park include Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the Atlantic coast, and Somes Sound, a fjard along the island's interior.
From Coventry Village to Lake View Cemetery, we follow Dugway west branch as it cuts through sandstone terraces and shale ravines.See how Dugway denizens have used local rocks and waters for milling, quarrying and building, and for burying the dead and schooling children.Learn the natural base for the suburban built environment on the Portage Escarpment. Broach issues of stream conservation and the greening of residential development.ย
This document provides background information on water issues in the American West. It discusses how the arid climate results in scarce water resources. It also describes how Western water law developed based on "first in time, first in right" to allocate water, particularly to support the mining industry. The geology of the region is outlined, noting how it formed natural resources like coal and shaped the landscape. Energy development places new demands on water supplies. Overall, the document establishes the historical, legal and environmental context surrounding water in the Western United States.
The document provides a summary of the geology tour given by Mike Stoever of the Washington D.C. area. It discusses the major geological processes that led to the formation of the area, including plate tectonics, erosion and deposition, a meteorite impact, and sea level changes. It then describes the four main geological provinces that make up the D.C. area, and highlights several important geological features, such as the Fall Line, Teddy Roosevelt Island, and Great Falls Park.
The document describes various geographic and geological features found around Fossil Falls State Park and the Coso Volcanic Field in California. It discusses how Fossil Falls was formed by meltwater from glaciers, and describes Native American artifacts and structures found in the area like metate holes, obsidian flakes, petroglyphs, and home rings. It also summarizes information about Mormon Rocks, the San Andreas Fault, and plant life commonly found in the Mojave Desert region.
The document summarizes the geologic history of Mosquito Lake State Park in Ohio. The park was shaped by glacial activity during the Pleistocene, which deposited drift material over older Devonian bedrock. The geology includes three distinct glacial features - a portion of the Defiance End Moraine, ground moraine forming the western park's flat surface, and lacustrine deposits from a former lake. The bedrock consists of Devonian sandstones and shales deposited in marine environments. Multiple glacial advances covered the area with till during the Wisconsinan Glacier before retreating.
For 2016, Cleveland Heights Rocks and Waters walks Quilliams Creek, a major tributary of Nine Mile Creek within the city.
On sidewalks and forest paths, we follow Quilliams on its course to join Nine Mile.
Walk through the local geology, ecology and history of this important bluestone landscape.
Nine Mile Creek is a new member of the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern for watershed restoration. Weโll also discuss stream restoration issues.
Similar to Big Bend National Park Virtual Field Trip (20)
Beyond Degrees - Empowering the Workforce in the Context of Skills-First.pptxEduSkills OECD
ย
Ivรกn Bornacelly, Policy Analyst at the OECD Centre for Skills, OECD, presents at the webinar 'Tackling job market gaps with a skills-first approach' on 12 June 2024
Temple of Asclepius in Thrace. Excavation resultsKrassimira Luka
ย
The temple and the sanctuary around were dedicated to Asklepios Zmidrenus. This name has been known since 1875 when an inscription dedicated to him was discovered in Rome. The inscription is dated in 227 AD and was left by soldiers originating from the city of Philippopolis (modern Plovdiv).
Leveraging Generative AI to Drive Nonprofit InnovationTechSoup
ย
In this webinar, participants learned how to utilize Generative AI to streamline operations and elevate member engagement. Amazon Web Service experts provided a customer specific use cases and dived into low/no-code tools that are quick and easy to deploy through Amazon Web Service (AWS.)
Philippine Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (EPP) CurriculumMJDuyan
ย
(๐๐๐ ๐๐๐) (๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐)-๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฌ
๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ:
- Understand the goals and objectives of the Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (EPP) curriculum, recognizing its importance in fostering practical life skills and values among students. Students will also be able to identify the key components and subjects covered, such as agriculture, home economics, industrial arts, and information and communication technology.
๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ซ:
-Define entrepreneurship, distinguishing it from general business activities by emphasizing its focus on innovation, risk-taking, and value creation. Students will describe the characteristics and traits of successful entrepreneurs, including their roles and responsibilities, and discuss the broader economic and social impacts of entrepreneurial activities on both local and global scales.
Chapter wise All Notes of First year Basic Civil Engineering.pptxDenish Jangid
ย
Chapter wise All Notes of First year Basic Civil Engineering
Syllabus
Chapter-1
Introduction to objective, scope and outcome the subject
Chapter 2
Introduction: Scope and Specialization of Civil Engineering, Role of civil Engineer in Society, Impact of infrastructural development on economy of country.
Chapter 3
Surveying: Object Principles & Types of Surveying; Site Plans, Plans & Maps; Scales & Unit of different Measurements.
Linear Measurements: Instruments used. Linear Measurement by Tape, Ranging out Survey Lines and overcoming Obstructions; Measurements on sloping ground; Tape corrections, conventional symbols. Angular Measurements: Instruments used; Introduction to Compass Surveying, Bearings and Longitude & Latitude of a Line, Introduction to total station.
Levelling: Instrument used Object of levelling, Methods of levelling in brief, and Contour maps.
Chapter 4
Buildings: Selection of site for Buildings, Layout of Building Plan, Types of buildings, Plinth area, carpet area, floor space index, Introduction to building byelaws, concept of sun light & ventilation. Components of Buildings & their functions, Basic concept of R.C.C., Introduction to types of foundation
Chapter 5
Transportation: Introduction to Transportation Engineering; Traffic and Road Safety: Types and Characteristics of Various Modes of Transportation; Various Road Traffic Signs, Causes of Accidents and Road Safety Measures.
Chapter 6
Environmental Engineering: Environmental Pollution, Environmental Acts and Regulations, Functional Concepts of Ecology, Basics of Species, Biodiversity, Ecosystem, Hydrological Cycle; Chemical Cycles: Carbon, Nitrogen & Phosphorus; Energy Flow in Ecosystems.
Water Pollution: Water Quality standards, Introduction to Treatment & Disposal of Waste Water. Reuse and Saving of Water, Rain Water Harvesting. Solid Waste Management: Classification of Solid Waste, Collection, Transportation and Disposal of Solid. Recycling of Solid Waste: Energy Recovery, Sanitary Landfill, On-Site Sanitation. Air & Noise Pollution: Primary and Secondary air pollutants, Harmful effects of Air Pollution, Control of Air Pollution. . Noise Pollution Harmful Effects of noise pollution, control of noise pollution, Global warming & Climate Change, Ozone depletion, Greenhouse effect
Text Books:
1. Palancharmy, Basic Civil Engineering, McGraw Hill publishers.
2. Satheesh Gopi, Basic Civil Engineering, Pearson Publishers.
3. Ketki Rangwala Dalal, Essentials of Civil Engineering, Charotar Publishing House.
4. BCP, Surveying volume 1
LAND USE LAND COVER AND NDVI OF MIRZAPUR DISTRICT, UPRAHUL
ย
This Dissertation explores the particular circumstances of Mirzapur, a region located in the
core of India. Mirzapur, with its varied terrains and abundant biodiversity, offers an optimal
environment for investigating the changes in vegetation cover dynamics. Our study utilizes
advanced technologies such as GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and Remote sensing to
analyze the transformations that have taken place over the course of a decade.
The complex relationship between human activities and the environment has been the focus
of extensive research and worry. As the global community grapples with swift urbanization,
population expansion, and economic progress, the effects on natural ecosystems are becoming
more evident. A crucial element of this impact is the alteration of vegetation cover, which plays a
significant role in maintaining the ecological equilibrium of our planet.Land serves as the foundation for all human activities and provides the necessary materials for
these activities. As the most crucial natural resource, its utilization by humans results in different
'Land uses,' which are determined by both human activities and the physical characteristics of the
land.
The utilization of land is impacted by human needs and environmental factors. In countries
like India, rapid population growth and the emphasis on extensive resource exploitation can lead
to significant land degradation, adversely affecting the region's land cover.
Therefore, human intervention has significantly influenced land use patterns over many
centuries, evolving its structure over time and space. In the present era, these changes have
accelerated due to factors such as agriculture and urbanization. Information regarding land use and
cover is essential for various planning and management tasks related to the Earth's surface,
providing crucial environmental data for scientific, resource management, policy purposes, and
diverse human activities.
Accurate understanding of land use and cover is imperative for the development planning
of any area. Consequently, a wide range of professionals, including earth system scientists, land
and water managers, and urban planners, are interested in obtaining data on land use and cover
changes, conversion trends, and other related patterns. The spatial dimensions of land use and
cover support policymakers and scientists in making well-informed decisions, as alterations in
these patterns indicate shifts in economic and social conditions. Monitoring such changes with the
help of Advanced technologies like Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems is
crucial for coordinated efforts across different administrative levels. Advanced technologies like
Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems
9
Changes in vegetation cover refer to variations in the distribution, composition, and overall
structure of plant communities across different temporal and spatial scales. These changes can
occur natural.
Gender and Mental Health - Counselling and Family Therapy Applications and In...PsychoTech Services
ย
A proprietary approach developed by bringing together the best of learning theories from Psychology, design principles from the world of visualization, and pedagogical methods from over a decade of training experience, that enables you to: Learn better, faster!
2. Table of Content/Featured Landforms
Big Bend National Park Teaser [3]
Big Bend National Park Introduction [4]
Park Texas Location Map [5]
Tectonic History & Geologic Map [6]
Field Trip Route Overview [7]
Formation of The Big Bend [8]
Panther Junction Visitor Center [9]
Cattail Falls [10-15]
The Window [16-20]
Blue Creek Canyon [21-24]
Burro Mesa Pour-Off [25-29]
Santa Elena Canyon [30-37]
Boquillas Canyon [38-44]
References [45]
3. Splendid Isolation, the Big Bend
โA place in Far West Texas where night skies are dark as coal and rivers carve
temple-like canyons in ancient limestone.โ โ nps.gov
(c) 2018 C. Alexis
4. BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK
INTRODUCTION
The Big Bend National Park is an American national park located in
southwest Texas, bordering Mexico. The park has national significance
as the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and
ecology in the United States.[4]
Geological features in the park include sea fossils and dinosaur bones,
as well as volcanic dikes. The area has a rich cultural history,
from archeological sites dating back nearly 10,000 years to more
recent pioneers, ranchers, and miners.[4]
5. LOCATION
Big Bend National Park is an
American national
park located in southern
West Texas, bordering
Mexico.
Photo from NPS
6. TECTONIC HISTORY
The oldest recorded tectonic activity in the
park is related to the Paleozoic
Marathon orogeny. [4]
Between the Triassic and the Cretaceous,
the South American Plate rifted from the
North American Plate, resulting in the
deposition of the major formations at the
park such as the Glen Rose Limestone,
Santa Elena Limestone
and Boquillas formations.[4]
Following the ending of rifting in the Late
Cretaceous to the early Cenozoic, the Big
Bend area was subjected to the Laramide
orogeny. [4]
The most recent tectonic activity in the
park is basin and range faulting from
the Neogene to Quaternary. [4] Map from USGS
7. Route Overview
This Virtual Field Trip of Big Bend
National Park begins at the
Panther Junction Visitor Center
and visits the popular landforms
within the Chisos Mountains
along the Ross Maxwell Scenic
Drive. Then follow the Rio
Grande through the Santa Elena
and the Boquillas Canyons.
Photo from NPS
8. Formation of The Big
Bend
Mountain building by
compression, volcanism, and
tension formed the framework
for Big Bend National Park. [5]
Erosion also formed the Rio
Grande, making it the youngest
major river system in the United
States. [5]
Erosion in Big Bend is best
defined by rapid runoff and
flash-flooding.[5]
[12]
9. Panther Junction Visitor Center is
the best place to begin Big Bend
National Park visit.
It is located at park headquarters,
and they provide interactive
exhibits to provide an overview of
geology and natural and cultural
histories of the park.[3]
The visitor center also has a
theater, with a park orientation
movie shown.[3]
Panther Junction Visitor Center
Photo from NPS
10. CATTAIL FALLS
Cattail Falls is a beautiful,
hidden waterfall above an
enchanting series of pools,
in a wooded canyon on the
west side of the Chisos
Mountains.[13]
Google Earth, 2019
11. Cattail Falls
The Cattail Falls are the last
drop for water flowing down
Cattail Canyon. The cliffs
consist of the intrusive
igneous rocks of Ward
Mountain on the west side of
the Basin.[9]
[9]
12. Cascades at Cattail
Falls
The base of Cattail Falls features
plants such as ferns and a rare
orchid named yellow
columbine.[9]
Shown is the picture to the right
is a fern lined cascade at the
bottom of Cattail Falls.
A cascade is a small waterfall,
typically one of several that fall in
stages down a steep rocky
slope.[5]Cascade
[9]
13. Hydraulic Jump at
Cattail Falls
Another fluvial process featured
in the picture is a phenomenon
known as hydraulic jump.
Hydraulic jump is the jump or
standing wave formed when the
depth of flow of water changes
from supercritical to subcritical
state.[6]
Hydraulic Jump
[9]
14. Cattail Falls Creek
Cattail Falls Creek features
smooth, polished rocks formed
through the movement of
water with sediment such as
sand and silt constantly
rubbing against the rocks.[9]
[10]
15. Cattail Falls
The process of weathering
loosen rocks on the cliffs
above the base of Cattail
Falls, which they end up as
rock-fall blocks.[9]
The block in the picture has
served to preserve the
material upon which it fell,
the older landslide,
alluvial, colluvial deposits of
Quaternary age that
generally have been eroded
away at the base of the
falls.[9]
[10]
16. THE WINDOW
Near Cattail Falls within the
Oak Creek Canyon features
the Window pour-off which
frames panoramic desert
vistas.[13]
Google Earth, 2019
17. The Window Trail
The trail to The Window
through Oak Creek Canyon
is the most popular in the
Chisos Mountains and
possibly in the whole of Big
Bend National Park. [13]
(c) 2018 C. Alexis
18. The Window Trail
The Window trail features a
fluvial process called โbase
flowโ where groundwater
percolates out of the ground
and into the stream.[9]
This occurs where the
local water table is higher
than the stream bed.[9]
[10]
19. The Window
The Window is a narrow
passage which you can look
out over the Chihuahua desert
to the northwest from an
elevation of over 3000 feet
above the desert floor.[9]
It features the escape of
surface water out of the Basin.
(c) 2018 C. Alexis
20. The Window Bottom
Oak Creek erode materials
along its path and goes through
cycles of erosion and deposition
as the flow changes velocity and
direction over time.[9]
The picture shows what is most
likely colluvium due to evidence
of the lack of obvious bedding
planes and the mixture of many
sizes of clasts in the outcrop.[9]
[10]
21. BLUE CREEK CANYON
Blue Creek Canyon is on the
southwest side of the high
Chisos Mountains, accessed
from Homer Wilson ranch
just off Ross Maxwell Scenic
Drive.[13]
Google Earth, 2019
22. Blue Creek Canyon
Blue Creek forms one of the
larger drainages of the Chisos
Mountains in the center of Big
Bend National Park.[9]
[9]
23. Blue Creek Canyon
The image shows a weathering
process called exfoliation of a
massive tuff bed.
These are volcanic rocks were
deposited at or near the
surface of the Earth.[9]
Chemical changes have caused
the minerals at the surface of
the rock to swell, creating
stress that leads to the
exfoliation observed.[9]
[9]
24. Blue Creek Canyon
The picture shows evidence of a
major recent flooding event
where increasing evidences is
shown further up the canyon.
Flash floods through Blue Creek
had eroded steep sides into
the alluvium of the creek bed.[9]
This is an example of evidence
of erosional processes that
continue to reshape the Big
Bend region, where rare but
large events can have a
substantial impact.[9]
[9]
25. BURRO MESA POUR-
OFF
The Burro Mesa Pour-of is
halfway along the Ross
Maxwell Scenic Drive, the
access road is to the
southwest section of Big
Bend National Park.[3]
Google Earth, 2019
26. Burro Mesa Pour-off
The trail to the Burro Mesa Pour-
off is a short, easy hike to an
unusual canyon feature, in desert
terrain.[13]
It is well marked over sandy
ground and along a dry wash to
the base of an unclimbable dry
fall at the edge of sheer volcanic
cliffs.[13]
Photo from NPS
27. Burro Mesa Pour-off
Big Bend National Park is full of pour-
offs of various sizes.
They are intermittent waterfalls,
usually dry, and the higher ones can
be show-stoppers for hikers trailing up
a stream bed.[9]
The Burro Mesa Pour-off forms a box
canyon that stops you in your tracks
unlike others that require more
hiking.[9]
Photo from NPS
28. Burro Mesa Pour-off
The picture shows a cavity
below the Burro Mesa
Rhyolite, which as been
smooth and polished by
sediment carried over the
pour-off during the occasional
desert rainstorm.[9]
The cavity may have been
formed when the ground level
was at the base of the
rhyolite.[9]
Burro Mesa Rhyolite
(c) 2018 C. Alexis
29. Burro Mesa Pour-off
A plunge pool forms at the base of a waterfall
through the swirling of the water containing
sediment. This wears away the rock at the
base through a process called abrasion.[9]
Abrasion is the process of friction caused by
scuffing, scratching, wearing down, marring,
and rubbing away of materials. The intensity
of abrasion depends on
the hardness, concentration, velocity and ma
ss of the moving particles.[5]
This causes waterfalls to retreat upstream.
Photo from NPS
30. SANTA ELENA CANYON
The Rio Grande runs
through Caรฑรณn de Santa
Elena.
Google Earth, 2019
31. Santa Elena Canyon
The Santa Elena Canyon is visible
for over 10 miles away, as the Rio
Grande changes direction
abruptly after following beneath
the straight Sierra Ponce cliffs for
several miles and heads due
west, cutting through the
mountains via a deep, narrow
gorge. In places, the canyon walls
tower 1,500 ft (457 m) above the
river.[13](c) 2018 C. Alexis
32. Formation of The
Santa Elena Canyon
Between 60 and 130 million
years ago, sediments that
accumulated in a shallow
inland sea were laid down in
the area that now makes
up Big Bend.[1]
These sediments eventually
hardened into massive
limestone layers that over
millions of years were carved
by the Rio Grande, forming
Santa Elena Canyon.[1]
Photo from NPS
33. Fluvial Processes at
Santa Elena Canyon
The mouth of the canyon features
fluvial landforms formed by erosion
and deposition of the Rio Grande.
The bars labeled in the picture are
elevated regions sand and alluvium
that has been deposited by the Rio
Grande. The vegetated bar is a
much older and stable landform
than sand bar due its vegetation.
Bars reflect sediment supply
conditions and can show where
sediment supply rate is greater than
the transport capacity.(c) 2018 C. Alexis
Sand Bar
Vegetated Bar
Floodplain
34. Hydraulic Roughness
at Santa Elena Canyon
The picture also show elements of
hydraulic roughness.
Hydraulic roughness is the measure
of the amount of frictional
resistance water experiences when
passing over land
and channel features.[2]
Factors such as suspended load,
sediment grain size, presence
of bedrock or boulders in the
stream channel, and
overall sinuosity of the stream
channel can all affected flow
velocity.[2]
(c) 2018 C. Alexis
Vegetated Bar
Bank Vegetation
Irregularities in wetted
perimeter
Bend/Meander
35. River Terraces in Santa
Elena Area
Long-lived fluvial systems can
produce a series of terrace surfaces
over the course of their geologic
lifetime. Terraces can be formed in
many ways and in several geologic
and environmental settings.[13]
When rivers flood, sediment
deposits in sheets across
the floodplain and build up over
time.
(c) 2018 C. Alexis
Rio Grande Terraces
(c) 2018 C. Alexis
36. River Terraces in Santa
Elena Area
The labeled terraces, T1-T3, are
numbered based age of the river
deposits comprising the terraces:
youngest, older, and oldest,
respectively. T4 can be considered
the most recent floodplain.
The deposits consist largely of
gravel, sand, and silt, well-rounded
by the action of water. The tops of
these terraces correspond to
former flood plains of the river.[10]
(c) 2018 C. Alexis
T3
T2
T1
(c) 2018 C. Alexis
37. Fluvial Deposits
Oldest intermediate axial
river deposits of the Rio
Grande preserved in isolated
terrace 37 m above the Rio
Grande floodplain.[3]
Margaret E. Berry
38. Boquillas Canyon
Boquillas Canyon is the
easternmost of the 3 main
narrows sections along the
Rio Grande within Big Bend
National Park; it is about 20
miles long, starting just east
of Rio Grande Village.[3]
Google Earth, 2019
39. Boquillas Canyon
The mouth of Boquillas Canyon
passes through an overgrown
riparian area and ends at a
heavily pebbled beach beside
the Rio Grande.
Riparian zones are the areas
bordering rivers and other
bodies of surface water. They
include the floodplain as well
as the riparian buffers adjacent
to the floodplain.[9]
David Kosareff
40. Boquillas Canyon
The mouth of the canyon
features an obvious fault. The
fault shown in the picture is a
normal fault in which the
hanging wall moves down
relative to the foot wall.
There is several hundred feet
of displacement. The canyon
walls are approximately 1200
feet.[3]
(c) 2018 C. Alexis
Foot Wall
Hanging Wall
41. Boquillas Canyon
The Boquillas Canyon features
many fluvial geomorphology
through fluvial processes by the
Rio Grande.
The picture shows a meander in
the Rio Grande with a point
bar on left side and a cut bank
on the right side.
(c) 2018 C. Alexis
42. Boquillas Canyon
The meander produced by the
Rio Grande as it erodes the
sediments comprising an outer,
concave bank (cut bank) and
deposits this and other sediment
downstream on an inner, convex
bank which is known as a point
bar.[9]
MeanderPoint Bar
Cut Bank
(c) 2018 C. Alexis
43. Dissolution Features
The picture shows caves and other
dissolution features forming in the
Del Carmen Limestone, Boquillas
Canyon area.
Caves are formed by the dissolution
of limestone. Rainwater picks up
carbon dioxide from the air and as it
percolates through the soil, which
turns into a weak acid. This slowly
dissolves out the limestone along the
joints, bedding planes and fractures,
some of which become enlarged
enough to form caves.[8]
Kenzie J. Turner
44. Sand Dune at Boquillas
Canyon
The Boquillas Canyon also feature a
sand dune.
A dune is a mound of sand formed by
the wind, usually along the beach or
in a desert.[5]
This dune formed when wind blows
sand into the sheltered area in front
of the canyon wall. The dune is
approximately 300 feet tall.[12]
Sand Dune
People for scale(c) 2018 C. Alexis
45. References
1. A service of USRA. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://epod.usra.edu/blog/2014/09/santa-elena-canyon.html.
2. Fard, R., Heidarnejad, M., & Zohrabi, N. (2013). Study Factors Influencing the Hydraulic Roughness Coefficient of the
Karun River (Iran). International Journal of Farming and Allied Sciences.
3. National Park Service. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/rigr/planyourvisit/boq_cyn.htm.
4. Gray, J.E.; Page, W.R., eds. (October 2008). Geological, geochemical, and geophysical studies by the U.S. Geological Survey
in Big Bend National Park, Texas. Circular 1327. U.S. Geological Survey
5. Geology and Landforms. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://texasbigbend.weebly.com/geology-and-landforms.html.
6. Hydraulic Jump -Types and Characteristics of Hydraulic Jump. (2017, September 11). Retrieved from
https://theconstructor.org/water-resources/hydraulic-jump-types-characteristics/12091/.
7. How caves form. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.bgs.ac.uk/mendips/caveskarst/caveform.htm.
8. Riparian Zone. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://allaboutwatersheds.org/library/kyw-poster-files-and-links/riparian-zone.
9. Redfern, F. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://prism-redfern.org/bbvirtualtrip/cattail/cattail.html.
10. Neuendorf, K.K.E., J.P. Mehl, Jr., and J.A. Jackson, J.A., eds. (2005) Glossary of Geology (5th ed.). Alexandria, Virginia,
American Geological Institute. 779 pp
11. Running in Big Bend National Park. Best routes and places to run in Big Bend National Park. (2017, May 18). Retrieved
from https://greatruns.com/big-bend-national-park/.
12. Texas Park & Wildlife (n.d.). Big Bend Ranch State Park.
13. The American Southwest (n.d.). Big Bend Ranch State Park.