Chapter 13 Weathering, Karst Landscapes, and Mass Movement

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Chapter 13Weathering, Karst Landscapes, and Mass
Movement

• Geosystems 6e
• An Introduction to Physical Geography

Robert W. Christopherson Charles E. Thomsen
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Weathering, Karst Landscapes, and Mass Movement

• Landmass Denudation
• Geomorphology the science of landforms
• Denudation a process that erodes or rearranges
  landforms  
• Weathering Processes  
• Karst Topography and Landscapes
• Limestone  
• Mass Movement Processes  

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Landmass Denudation 

• Geomorphic Models of Landform Development 
• Also called Erosion Cycle
• Start with uplifted surface
• Water erosion cuts into the surface and
  transports materials elsewhere
• Ridges and valleys are formed
• Surface eventually becomes rounded 
• Dynamic Equilibrium View of Landforms 
• Emphasizes the balance among force, form, and
  process
• Every landscape is unique 

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Dynamic Equilibrium
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Slope Mechanics and Form
Figure 13.3
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Slope Mechanics and Form
Figure 13.3
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Weathering Processes  

• Either disintegrate rock into mineral particles
  or dissolve them in water
• Physical Weathering Processes
• When rock is broken and disintegrated without any
  chemical alteration  
• Chemical Weathering Processes  
• The actual decomposition or chemical change of
  mineral in rock

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Regolith, Soil, and Parent Materials
Figure 13.5
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Joint-block Separation
Figure 13.8
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Talus Slope
Figure 13.8
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Exfoliation in Granite
Figure 13.11
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Exfoliation in Granite
Figure 13.11
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Chemical Weathering
Figure 13.12
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Spheroidal Weathering
Figure 13.12
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Karst Topography and Landscapes  

• Karst  - landscape of limestone with poor
  drainage that appears pitted and bumpy
• Sinkholes  
• Caves and Caverns  

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Karst and Limestone Regions
Figure 13.14
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Sinkholes
Figure 13.16
Figure 13.18
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Tower Karst
Figure 13.19
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Cavern Features
Figure 13.20
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Mass Movement Processes  

• Mass Movement any unit movement of a body of
  material, propelled and controlled by gravity  
• Classes of Mass Movements  
• Fall, slide, flow, or creep
• Human-Induced Mass Movements (Scarification)
• Mines, roads, development, mountain-top removal

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Madison River Landslide
Figure 13.21
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Mass Movement Classes
Figure 13.22
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Rockfall
Figure 13.9
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Debris Avalanche
Figure 13.25
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Soil Creep
Figure 13.27
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Scarification
Figure 13.28
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End of Chapter 13

• Geosystems 6e
• An Introduction to Physical Geography

Robert W. Christopherson Charles E. Thomsen