Author Question: What have been some of the different erosional impacts of glaciers, running water, wind, and wave ... (Read 55 times)

pane00 · **on:** Aug 7, 2018

What have been some of the different erosional impacts of glaciers, running water, wind, and wave action on the geomorphology of the American and Canadian West?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

How are the location patterns of earthquakes, volcanoes, and fault lines in North America related to its tectonic plate boundaries?

What will be an ideal response?

paavo · **Reply #1 on:** Aug 7, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Glaciers, water, wind, and waves are each associated with distinctive landforms. Continental glaciers scoured much of Canada and the northern United States, leaving behind distinctive hills and ridges of sediment. Alpine glaciers create sharp mountain peaks and U-shaped valleys in contrast to V-shaped valleys formed by running water. In some parts of North America wind has deposited sediment to form highly fertile but erodible soils called loess, and, in other places, wind-blown soil forms large dune complexes. The western coast of North America features many dramatic landforms shaped by wave action such as sea cliffs, wavecut platforms, and sea stacks.

Answer to Question 2

Fault lines generally mark the edges of tectonic plates or exist very close to these boundaries. Earthquakes most often take place near these boundaries as well. Volcanoes are often located within a few hundred miles of these boundaries and are formed as one plate is forced under the edge of another. However, volcanoes and tectonic activities are not always associated with plate boundaries; for example, the Hawaiian volcanoes and the Yellowstone caldera are both located far from plate boundaries and associated with hotspots in the Earth's crust.