Measuring Landscape Characteristics

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Measuring Landscape Characteristics
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• Features such as mountains, valleys, and stream
  drainage patterns have distinctive shapes by
  which they can be identified

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Gradient and Profile

• Gradient
• elevation (height)/distance (length)
• Profile shows the elevation, shape and slope of
  landscape features

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Mountains, Plateaus and Plains

• Mountains, plateaus and plains are categories of
  landscapes characterized by gradient, elevation
  and rock structure

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• Summary
• Mountain High elevation, steep gradient,
  distorted or disturbed rock layers (faulting,
  folding, etc)

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• b. Plateau High elevation, undistorted
  horizontal rock structure, fairly level slope

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• c. Plain low elevation and level surface with
  little change in slope

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Time and Landscape Stages

• An area often experiences a time when the
  uplifting forces are dominant, followed by a long
  time when the leveling forces are dominant
• Youth Uplift dominant
• Maturity Leveling dominant

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• b. Old Age Leveling still dominant but less
  effective due to low elevations less potential
  energy
• c. Dynamic equilibrium uplift and leveling are
  equal forces

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Effects of Climate on Landscape Development

• Arid climates little vegetation to hold
  sediments in place, resulting in steeper slopes
  and sharp, angular landscape features
  (physical/mechanical weathering). Common in SW US

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• Humid climates Vegetation holds sediments in
  place, so landscapes are smoother and more
  rounded (chemical weathering). Common in eastern
  US

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Landscape features of glaciations

1. Mountaintops and steep slopes without soil
2. Transported soil over large areas
3. Unsorted soil at and below the surface

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• d. Wide U-shape valleys
• e. Polish, striations, drumlins, moraines, Finger
  lakes and kettle lakes
• f. Disconnected stream drainage patterns