1. Landscapes
Earth Science
Mr. Cloud
Zion National Park, Utah

2. What is a landscape?
A landscape, or topography, are features of Earth’s surface at the interfaces between the atmosphere, or hydrosphere, and the top of the lithosphere.

3. Types of Landscapes
Mountains
Plateaus
Plains

4. Mountains An area of high elevation with regions of steep gradient
Peaks are usually thousands of feet higher than their base
Internal Structure:
Distorted rock including faults, folds, and volcanic rock

5. Plateaus
Area of high elevation with a more level slope or gradient than mountains
Internal Structure:
Undistorted, horizontal rock strata
Greenland Plateau

6. Atlantic Coastal Plain
Plains
Low elevation, generally level surface with little change in gradient
Regions dominated by leveling forces
Composed primarily of sedimentary rocks
Atlantic Coastal Plain

7. Landscape Regions
Landscape characteristics such as elevation, bedrock structure, stream drainage, soil characteristics, and gradient occur in combination to form identifiable areas called landscape regions.

8. Factors of Landscape Development
Uplifting Forces: tectonic movement that causes regions to change elevation
Forces include volcanic action, earthquakes

9. Factors of Landscape Development
Leveling forces: lower and level out land surfaces by weathering and erosion
When both forces are present, the landscape will be uplifted or lowered, depending on which force is dominant.
Weathering and Erosion at Niagara Falls
Ice Wedging

10. What other factors can affect landscape development?
Arid v. Humid
Bedrock Structure

11. Sharp, unforgiving characteristics
Arid Landscape

12. Rolling, smooth, forgiving gradient
Humid Landscape

13. Bedrock Structure
The composition and structural features of bedrock are major factors in the rate of development and the features of landscapes.
Different rock types have varying degrees of resistance to weathering and erosion
If differing rocks are exposed to weathering and erosion, the landscape will change at varying rates.

14. Stream Drainage Patterns
V-shaped valley: most common
Volcanic
Faulting
Folded mountains: varying bedrock resistance