Earth's Surface

Front

Saltation Noun

---

[sal-tay-shun]

Back

Saltation

---

The movement of sediment particles by wind or water in a series of short leaps or bounces along a surface.

---

Example: Wind causes sand-sized particles to bounce and skip along the ground, knocking other particles into the air. This process is called saltation.

Front

V-shaped valley Noun

---

[vee-shaypt val-ee]

Back

V-shaped valley

---

A valley with sharply angled sides, formed by the powerful downward erosion of a fast-flowing stream in a steep area.

---

Example: This diagram shows a cross-section of a V-shaped valley, illustrating how a river at the bottom erodes the land, deepening and widening the valley.

Front

Meander Noun

---

[mee-an-der]

Back

Meander

---

A loop-like bend in a river's course, formed by erosion on the outer bank and sediment deposition on the inner bank.

---

Example: This diagram shows a meander, a winding curve in a river's path, and illustrates how the river's course changes from a straighter path.

Front

Oxbow lake Noun

---

[oks-boh layk]

Back

Oxbow lake

---

A separate, curved body of water that forms when a river cuts off a meander from its main channel.

---

Example: This diagram shows the three-step process of how a river meander is cut off by erosion and deposition, forming a U-shaped oxbow lake.

Front

Alluvial fan Noun

---

[uh-loo-vee-ul fan]

Back

Alluvial fan

---

A fan-shaped deposit of sediment formed on land where a stream slows down as it leaves a mountainous area.

---

Example: This diagram shows how a stream flowing from steep mountains deposits sediment in a fan shape onto a flat plain, forming an alluvial fan.

Front

Delta Noun

---

[del-tuh]

Back

Delta

---

A mass of sediment deposited at the mouth of a river where it enters a large body of water.

---

Example: This diagram shows a river slowing down as it enters a lake, causing it to drop sediment and build a fan-shaped landform called a delta.

Front

Stalactite Noun

---

[stuh-lak-tyt]

Back

Stalactite

---

An icicle-like mineral formation that hangs from the ceiling of a cave, formed by the dripping of mineral-rich water.

---

Example: This diagram shows a stalactite, an icicle-like rock formation that hangs down from the ceiling of a cave, formed by dripping, mineral-rich water.

Front

Stalagmite Noun

---

[stuh-lag-myt]

Back

Stalagmite

---

A pillar-like mineral formation that builds up from the floor of a cave, formed by dripping mineral-rich water.

---

Example: This diagram shows a stalagmite as a rock formation that rises from the floor of a cave, formed by the dripping of mineral-rich water.

Front

Plucking Noun

---

[pluk-ing]

Back

Plucking

---

A process of glacial erosion where pieces of bedrock are frozen to the bottom of a glacier and carried away.

---

Example: As a glacier flows, meltwater seeps into cracks in the bedrock, freezes, and breaks off rock fragments, which are then carried away by the ice.

Front

U-shaped valley Noun

---

[yoo-shaypt val-ee]

Back

U-shaped valley

---

A valley with a U-shaped cross-section, carved by a glacier as it moves through and widens a pre-existing valley.

---

Example: This diagram shows a cross-section of a U-shaped valley, highlighting its steep sides and flat floor, which are features carved out by a glacier.