Landforms and Geomorphology

What this unit covers

The unit is about how landscapes are shaped. Much of it starts with weathering, erosion and deposition. The notes titled Shaping earths crust explain that denudation happens through weathering and erosion, and split weathering into mechanical and chemical types. Several mind maps, including Weathering and Weathering!, go through physical weathering such as exfoliation, which happens when rock is repeatedly heated and cooled.

Landforms by environment

From there the page moves to particular settings. The notes on Hot Desert Environments describe wadis, the desert stream channels that start high in the mountains and have steep gradients. The Landform in Karst Region mind map covers limestone, cave pillars and dripstone features, and there is a matching set on karst processes and landforms. For cold environments, the notes on Frost heaving/hillslope processes cover bedrock heave, and there is a mind map on the Periglacial Environment. Mass Movement sorts slope processes into slow ones, such as soil creep, and fast ones, such as slides, falls and slumps.

Where to start

1. Open the Weathering mind maps to get the basic vocabulary.
2. Read Shaping earths crust to see how the ideas connect.
3. Choose an environment: deserts, karst or periglacial.
4. Look at Mass Movement and Slopes and Slope Stability.
5. Finish with the Theme 1: Geomorphic Processes maps for a wider view.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a map first, then take a quiz such as Weathering, erosion and deposition or Landforms Exit Quiz. Anything you get wrong tells you which map to reopen. Flashcard decks such as Formation of Tors and Glacial Geomorphology help with key terms. Some resources mention GCSE Geography, and most of the material suits secondary students, with a fifth aimed at university level.

Where it fits

This unit sits in the Surface Processes and Landscapes strand of Geology and earth sciences. Choose one topic today, try its quiz, and then build a map or deck of your own.