Understanding Orogeny: Formation of Mountain Ranges
Orogeny: The Birth of Mountains
Orogeny: The set of geological processes that give rise to large mountain ranges or orogens. They form on the borders of converging tectonic plates and, depending on the type of convergence, may be of the Andean and island arc collision type.
The Tectonic Orogeny Before Plate Theory: Fixism
Early orogenic theories did not consider the mobility of the masses. According to the fixist hypothesis, the distribution of continents and oceans has always been the same. The main
Read MoreUnderstanding Earth’s Relief, Rock Formation, and Textures
Earth’s Relief and Landforms
The Earth’s surface exhibits diverse relief features.
Types of Relief
Relief areas can be emergent (above sea level) or submerged. Major relief features include:
- Mountain Ranges: Formed by the convergence of tectonic plates.
- Plains: Flat or gently undulating areas. Plateaus are elevated plains.
- Depressions: Areas lower than the surrounding terrain.
Rock Formation and the Rock Cycle
The Earth’s surface is composed of various rock types, including sedimentary rocks.
Sedimentary
Read MoreUnderstanding Spain’s Climate: Geographical & Thermodynamic Factors
Understanding Spain’s Climate: Geographical and Thermodynamic Factors
Geographical Factors
Geographic factors explaining the Spanish climates are:
Latitude
The latitude of Spain, in the Northern Hemisphere temperate zone, determines the existence of two distinct seasons (summer and winter), separated by two transitional seasons (spring and fall).
Situation
The situation of the peninsula between two large bodies of water of different thermal characteristics (the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea) and
Read MoreEarth’s Internal Heat: Tectonic Plates, Volcanoes, and Earthquakes
Why Is the Interior of the Earth So Hot?
The interior of the Earth is very hot because of the heat generated when the Earth was formed. The temperature is above 6000ºC.
4600 million years ago, meteorites crashed and made the Earth hotter. 4000 million years ago, the heat expanded and formed a core of iron. The Earth today has two cores: the inner core is solid due to the pressure, and the outer core is molten.
- The crust is the external layer and has a depth of 0-35km.
- The mantle is the medial layer
Essential Geography and Climatology Terms: A Concise Dictionary
Geography & Climatology Glossary
Aquifer: A combination of groundwater and the rock that stores and circulates the water.
Afluente (Tributary): A watercourse that flows into a larger body of water.
Temperature Range: The difference between the highest and lowest daily, monthly, or yearly temperatures; also known as thermal oscillation.
Anticyclone: A high-pressure zone surrounded by areas of lower pressure.
Anticline: A fold in the ground.
Aridity: A condition resulting from a lack of water due to
Read MoreSoil Science Concepts and Techniques
6) Eluviation/Illuviation Process
Luvisols vs. Podzols
Eluviation is the leaching or removal/transport of suspended or dissolved soil components to underlying horizons. This includes:
- Degradation (removal of soluble salts)
- Illimerization (removal of clay)
- Podzolization (removal of Fe and Al oxides and organic substances, leading to E horizon formation)
Illuviation is the accumulation of substances removed from the overlaying horizon (eluviation), leading to the formation of argic/spodic/natric horizons.