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Lithospheric Processes

The document discusses various lithospheric processes that shape Earth's surface. It defines the lithosphere as the solid outer part comprising rocks and soil. [1] Volcanic eruptions can create rapid change over minutes, unlike tectonic movement that forces crust into fold mountains over millions of years. [2] Erosion wears away earth via agents like water, ice, and wind. Weathering breaks down rocks physically and chemically. [3] Tectonic plates float atop the mantle, forming mountains at collision zones and causing earthquakes along boundaries and faults.

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Jasmine Karam
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12 views

Lithospheric Processes

The document discusses various lithospheric processes that shape Earth's surface. It defines the lithosphere as the solid outer part comprising rocks and soil. [1] Volcanic eruptions can create rapid change over minutes, unlike tectonic movement that forces crust into fold mountains over millions of years. [2] Erosion wears away earth via agents like water, ice, and wind. Weathering breaks down rocks physically and chemically. [3] Tectonic plates float atop the mantle, forming mountains at collision zones and causing earthquakes along boundaries and faults.

Uploaded by

Jasmine Karam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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13.

3 Lithospheric processes
LEARNING INTENTION
By the end of this subtopic, you will be able to describe the lithospheric process that enable environments to function�

13.3.1 Understanding the lithosphere


The lithosphere is all the rocks, soils and crust on the Earth’s surface. Processes related to the lithosphere
work over very varied degrees of intensity and speed. For example, a volcano may erupt very violently,
creating significant change in a matter of minutes, whereas tectonic movement creates change comparatively
slowly, forcing the crust into fold mountains over millions of year.

13.3.2 Erosion and weathering


lithosphere all the rocks,
Erosion is the wearing away of earth by wind, water or ice. Moving water and soils and crust on the Earth’s
rain carry away soil and rock fragments. Waves crash against shorelines and move surface
sand. Wind can carry lighter sediments, such as dust, sand and ash, away from their erosion the wearing down
of rocks and soils on the
source. In dry areas with high winds, these materials can also blast against rocks, Earth’s surface by the action
intensifying erosion. Moving glaciers can also carry away sediments and large of water, ice, wind, waves,
rocks. As they move, they rub against the ground, further eroding soils and breaking glaciers and other processes
boulders. weathering the breaking
down of rock through the
Weathering is the physical and chemical disintegration of rocks and minerals. action of wind and water and
the effects of climate, mainly
It occurs through physical processes such as water freezing and expanding, by water freezing and cooling
seeds germinating and cracking rocks, and when rocks are exposed and expand. as a result of temperature
Chemical weathering occurs when minerals react with oxygen and form oxides, change
acids dissolve minerals in rocks, and when rocks expand as their minerals combine
with water.

FIGURE 1 Geographical processes form rocks and landforms, such as erosion from (a) rivers or (b) glaciers�

(a) (b)

438 Jacaranda Geoactive 2 NSW Australian curriculum Geography Stage 5 Fifth Edition
13.3.3 Tectonic processes
The Earth’s crust is divided into tectonic plates, which float around on top of the semi-molten rock of the
mantle. Where plates have collided, huge mountain ranges have been formed. Along plate boundaries,
volcanoes and earthquakes are common. Fold mountains, such as the Himalayas, form when the Earth’s plates
crunch into each other and layers of the crust are pushed up into loops and bumps (see FIGURE 2).

FIGURE 2 Formation of fold mountains

Ridge

Valley

Pressure Pressure

Fault mountains are made when part of the crust is forced up or collapses between two cracks in a plate. These
cracks are called faults (see FIGURE 3).
Earthquakes occur as a result of movement between sections of the Earth’s crust. They commonly occur
along fault lines and along plate boundaries. Sections of tectonic plates can be forced upwards, exposing
new sections. Volcanoes involve the process of molten rock from the mantle being forced up onto the Earth’s
surface, building continents.

FIGURE 3 Fault mountains are created by pressure on the Earth’s plates from both sides�

The block moves up to


form a mountain. As the crust moves
apart, the block sinks.
Faults

Pressure Pressure

Magma
Rift valley

CHAPTER 13 Introducing environmental change and management 439


Section 13.3.1: Understanding the lithosphere
1. What does the term "lithosphere" refer to in the context of this text?
2. Provide an example of a geological process that can create significant change on
Earth's surface very quickly.
3. How does tectonic movement differ from a volcanic eruption in terms of the speed of
creating change on Earth's surface?

Section 13.3.2: Erosion and weathering


1. Define erosion and give examples of agents of erosion mentioned in the text.
2. What are some ways in which wind contributes to erosion, especially in dry areas?
3. Explain the difference between physical weathering and chemical weathering.
Provide examples of each.

Section 13.3.3: Tectonic processes

1. What are tectonic plates, and where are they located in relation to the Earth's crust
and mantle?
2. How do fold mountains like the Himalayas form according to the text?
3. What is a fault mountain, and how does it differ from a fold mountain?
4. Why do earthquakes commonly occur along fault lines and plate boundaries,
according to the text?
5. How are volcanoes related to tectonic processes, and what happens during a
volcanic eruption?

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