What are Landforms TSW Identify and compare different

What are Landforms? TSW- Identify and compare different landforms TSW- Recognize how landforms such as deltas, canyons, and sand dunes are the result of changes to Earth’s surface by wind, water, and ice

What are landforms? • Landforms are the natural structures or features on Earth’s surface. • There are many different types of landforms found on the Earth.

• Landforms are the natural structures or features on Earth’s surface.

Changes to landforms • Many of the changes on Earth’s surface are the result of weathering, erosion and deposition. • Earth’s surface is constantly exposed to wind, water and ice which cause changes to landforms.

mountain • A mountain is a place on Earth’s surface that is much higher than the land around it.

hill • A hill is land that rises above the land around it. • A hill has a rounded top.

Changes over time • Over a long period of time, weathering will cause mountains to gradually become hills. • This weathering is caused by wind, water and ice Wind, water, and ice slowly wear away the rock and make the mountain peaks more rounded.

erosion • Erosion occurs when wind, water, or ice carry small pieces of dirt or rock away from one area to another.

valley A valley is a lowland area between higher lands such as mountains.

Valleys are cut by water and ice Over very long periods of time, rivers and glaciers cut a path across the Earth leaving behind valleys between mountain peaks.

canyon A canyon is a deep valley with very steep sides.

canyon Running water slowly wears away rock leaving the deep grooves of a canyon behind.

plain A plain is a flat area on Earth’s surface.

plain A plain is formed when the rock making up the land gradually is worn away by weathering. Wind and water cause this weathering.

plateau A plateau is a flat area higher than the land around it.

Formation of a plateau A plateau is a formed when moving water and wind erode a part of a mountain leaving behind some of the rock.

sand dune A sand dune is shaped by blowing winds.

Ice wedging Water can freeze in cracks of rock and cause the rock to break. This is a form of weathering.

deposition • Deposition occurs when particles or sediment are left behind in a new place.

deltas • A delta is a usually triangular shaped deposit of sediments at the mouth of a river.

deltas • As a river loses energy, it drops dirt and sediment to create a delta. • This area creates rich farm land.

caves • A cave is formed when water dissolves rock (usually limestone) and leaves behind an open area underground.

weathering • Weathering is the breaking down of rock on the surface of the earth, usually by the force of water, wind, or ice.

Changing Earth • The face of the Earth is always changing! • Wind, water and ice create landforms on Earth’s surface and cause these changes through weathering, erosion and deposition.