Landforms Shaped by Water and Tectonic Forces
Landforms Shaped by Water Erosion
On hillsides or slopes, this model is given by wild waters or streams. Wild waters or streams occur on very steep slopes where there is little vegetation. The action of these waters gives modeled as fairy chimneys, gullies, or furrows on the earth.
Floods, in contrast, although there are also just as wild waters when it rains or snowmelt, have a channel that is divided into:
- Catchment area: Usually a lot of small grooves that carry the water.
- Drainage channel: Collects
Urban Heat Islands and Climate Phenomena
Urban Heat Island Effect
The urban heat island effect refers to the difficulty of heat dissipation during nighttime hours in urban areas. While non-urban areas cool down considerably due to a lack of heat buildup, downtown areas with buildings and asphalt radiate heat accumulated during the day. This causes local winds to blow from the outside inward. The phenomenon of temperature rise in densely built urban areas is caused by a combination of factors, including construction, lack of green spaces,
Read MoreVicente Blasco Ibáñez and Naturalism in Literature
Vicente Blasco Ibáñez (1867-1928)
Valencian Cycle: Focuses on Valencian environments and rural areas (Rice and Tartan, The Cabin, Reeds and Mud).
Political Cycle: Explores republican ideology and anticlericalism (The Cathedral, The Intruder, The Horde).
Final Cycle: Highlights include The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, set during World War I and defending the Allies. It has been the subject of countless films.
Naturalism
Naturalism: Emerged in France with the writer Emile Zola (1840-1902). It was
Read MoreRenewable Energy, Carbon Cycle, and Environmental Impacts
Renewable Energy and Electricity Production
Geothermal vs. Tidal Power: Pros and Cons
Geothermal Energy: A renewable resource from Earth’s interior, used for space heating or electricity generation. It is inexpensive and reliable. Geothermal energy is environmentally benign, emitting fewer air pollutants than fossil fuels. However, it can release hydrogen sulfide gas and cause land sinking. It can also be expensive for heating buildings.
Tidal Power: A clean, renewable resource for electricity generation.
Read MoreEarth’s Structure and Plate Tectonics: A Comprehensive Study
Earth’s Interior: Methods of Study
- Surveys and Mines: Limited to a depth of 13 km compared to Earth’s radius of 6371 km.
- Study of Rocks: Natural processes like erosion and volcanic eruptions bring interior rocks to the surface.
- Meteorites: Provide insights into solar system materials, similar to Earth’s composition.
- Seismic Methods: The most effective, analyzing seismic waves from earthquakes or blasts.
Seismic Waves: P and S Waves
- P Waves (Primary): Faster, travel through all mediums, faster in solids
Iberian Peninsula: Mountain Ranges and Geology
Mountain Ranges of the Iberian Peninsula
The mountainous Chimes Plateau originated in the Tertiary period through the rejuvenation of blocks or by the folding of material deposited by the sea during the Secondary Era at the edges.
a) Galaico-Leonese Massif
Located in the northwest corner of the plateau, it fractured and rejuvenated due to the Alpine orogeny. It features both Paleozoic materials and mountains with rounded tops and low elevation (Segundera, Ancares). The massif ends in steep slopes.
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