Glanz: Die Seite wurde neu angelegt: „{{T}} {{TOC}} === A === {| align=center {{:D-Tab}} {{o}} Ablation: Surface loss of ice or snow through melting, sublimation, or wind erosion. {{o}} Abyssal Plain: Vast, flat floor of the deep ocean basin. {{o}} Accretionary Wedge: Sedimentary mass scraped from a subducting plate at a convergent margin. {{o}} Active Margin: Tectonically active continental edge where earthquakes and volcanism are common. {{o}} Aeolian Process…“

2025-08-02T10:53:47Z

Die Seite wurde neu angelegt: „{{T}} {{TOC}} === A === {| align=center {{:D-Tab}} {{o}} Ablation: Surface loss of ice or snow through melting, sublimation, or wind erosion. {{o}} Abyssal Plain: Vast, flat floor of the deep ocean basin. {{o}} Accretionary Wedge: Sedimentary mass scraped from a subducting plate at a convergent margin. {{o}} Active Margin: Tectonically active continental edge where earthquakes and volcanism are common. {{o}} Aeolian Process…“

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=== A ===
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{{o}} [[Ablation]]: Surface loss of ice or snow through melting, sublimation, or wind erosion.
{{o}} [[Abyssal Plain]]: Vast, flat floor of the deep ocean basin.
{{o}} [[Accretionary Wedge]]: Sedimentary mass scraped from a subducting plate at a convergent margin.
{{o}} [[Active Margin]]: Tectonically active continental edge where earthquakes and volcanism are common.
{{o}} [[Aeolian Process]]: Landform change driven by wind-transported sediment.
{{o}} [[Albedo]]: Fraction of solar radiation reflected by a surface.
{{o}} [[Alluvial Fan]]: Fan-shaped deposit formed where a high-gradient stream loses energy.
{{o}} [[Alpine Glacier]]: River of ice constrained to mountain valleys.
{{o}} [[Altiplano]]: High plateau region, notably in the central Andes.
{{o}} [[Anabranch]]: Secondary channel that rejoins the main river downstream.
{{o}} [[Anticline]]: Up-arching fold with oldest strata at its core.
{{o}} [[Aquiclude]]: Geologic layer that blocks groundwater flow.
{{o}} [[Aquifer]]: Geologic unit able to store and transmit groundwater.
{{o}} [[Archipelago]]: Chain or cluster of islands.
{{o}} [[Arid Region]]: Zone receiving less than 250 mm annual precipitation.
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=== B ===
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{{o}} [[Back-Arc Basin]]: Seafloor depression behind a volcanic island arc.
{{o}} [[Bajada]]: Coalesced alluvial fans along a mountain front.
{{o}} [[Bar]]: Ridge of sand or gravel deposited in a stream or along a coast.
{{o}} [[Barchan Dune]]: Crescent-shaped dune with horns pointing downwind.
{{o}} [[Basalt]]: Fine-grained mafic volcanic rock.
{{o}} [[Batholith]]: Massive intrusive igneous body exposed over >100 km².
{{o}} [[Baymouth Bar]]: Sand spit that seals a bay from the open sea.
{{o}} [[Beaufort Scale]]: Empirical measure of wind speed based on sea-state.
{{o}} [[Benioff Zone]]: Dipping plane of seismicity along a subducting slab.
{{o}} [[Biogeography]]: Study of species distribution over space and time.
{{o}} [[Biome]]: Major ecological community type such as tundra or rainforest.
{{o}} [[Biosphere]]: Global sum of all ecosystems and living organisms.
{{o}} [[Blizzard]]: Severe snowstorm with sustained winds ≥56 km h⁻¹.
{{o}} [[Bog]]: Acidic, waterlogged peatland dominated by sphagnum moss.
{{o}} [[Braided River]]: Network of multiple shifting channels separated by bars.
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=== C ===
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{{o}} [[Caldera]]: Large depression formed after volcanic roof collapse.
{{o}} [[Capillary Fringe]]: Saturated zone just above the water table.
{{o}} [[Carbonatite]]: Rare igneous rock composed largely of carbonate minerals.
{{o}} [[Catena]]: Sequence of soils down a slope linked by drainage.
{{o}} [[Catastrophism]]: Theory that Earth’s surface was shaped by sudden, short-lived events.
{{o}} [[Cave]]: Natural subterranean cavity large enough for human entry.
{{o}} [[Cenozoic Era]]: Geological time unit spanning the last 66 million years.
{{o}} [[Chinook Wind]]: Warm, dry downslope wind on the leeward side of mountains.
{{o}} [[Cirque]]: Amphitheater-shaped hollow at a glacier’s head.
{{o}} [[Clastic Rock]]: Sedimentary rock composed of fragments of pre-existing rocks.
{{o}} [[Cloud Forest]]: Tropical montane forest with persistent or frequent cloud cover.
{{o}} [[Coastal Plain]]: Low-lying flatland adjacent to a seacoast.
{{o}} [[Cone of Depression]]: Conical lowering of water table around a pumped well.
{{o}} [[Continental Drift]]: Historical concept of lateral movement of continents over geologic time.
{{o}} [[Cryosphere]]: Portions of Earth where water is frozen year-round.
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=== D ===
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{{o}} [[D delta]]: Mouth deposit of a river entering a standing body of water.
{{o}} [[Dark Sky Reserve]]: Protected area with minimal light pollution for astronomy.
{{o}} [[Deflation]]: Removal of loose particles by wind.
{{o}} [[Deglaciation]]: Glacial ice retreat and melting phase.
{{o}} [[Denudation]]: Collective processes that wear away Earth’s surface.
{{o}} [[Dendritic Drainage]]: River pattern resembling tree branches.
{{o}} [[Desert Pavement]]: Surface covered by closely packed gravel after fine particles blow away.
{{o}} [[Detrital Mineral]]: Mineral grain derived from the erosion of pre-existing rocks.
{{o}} [[Diapir]]: Mobile mass piercing overlying strata, often salt or magma.
{{o}} [[Diastrophism]]: Deformation of Earth’s crust by tectonic forces.
{{o}} [[Dike]]: Tabular igneous intrusion cutting across bedding.
{{o}} [[Doline]]: Closed depression in karst terrain formed by solution or collapse.
{{o}} [[Drainage Divide]]: Topographic ridge separating adjacent drainage basins.
{{o}} [[Drumlin]]: Streamlined hill of glacial till indicating ice-flow direction.
{{o}} [[Dust Storm]]: Dense, turbulent cloud of wind-lifted soil particles.
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=== E ===
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{{o}} [[Earthflow]]: Slow, viscous downslope movement of saturated soil.
{{o}} [[Ebb Tide]]: Period when tidal water level falls.
{{o}} [[Ecoregion]]: Large area of distinct environmental conditions and communities.
{{o}} [[Eddy]]: Circular current moving contrary to the main flow.
{{o}} [[Eolianite]]: Rock formed from lithified wind-blown sand.
{{o}} [[El Niño]]: Periodic warming of eastern Pacific influencing global climate.
{{o}} [[End Moraine]]: Ridge of till marking glacier’s furthest advance.
{{o}} [[Endorheic Basin]]: Drainage basin with no outlet to the ocean.
{{o}} [[Ephemeral Stream]]: Channel flowing only after precipitation events.
{{o}} [[Epicenter]]: Point on Earth’s surface directly above an earthquake focus.
{{o}} [[Epishelf Lake]]: Saline-freshwater interface lake trapped behind sea ice.
{{o}} [[Erosion]]: Transport of weathered material by water, wind, ice, or gravity.
{{o}} [[Estuary]]: Semi-enclosed coastal body where freshwater mixes with seawater.
{{o}} [[Eustasy]]: Global sea-level change due to water-mass variations.
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=== F ===
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{{o}} [[Fault Scarp]]: Steep slope formed by vertical movement on a fault.
{{o}} [[Fetch]]: Uninterrupted distance over water that wind blows generating waves.
{{o}} [[Firn]]: Granular snow that survives a melt season and densifies into ice.
{{o}} [[Fjord]]: Deep, glacially carved valley flooded by the sea.
{{o}} [[Floodplain]]: Flat land adjacent to a river subject to periodic inundation.
{{o}} [[Fluvial Terrace]]: Relict alluvial surface above current river level.
{{o}} [[Föhn Wind]]: Warm, dry downslope wind in the Alps.
{{o}} [[Fold Belt]]: Region extensively deformed by compressional tectonics.
{{o}} [[Footwall]]: Rock mass below a dipping fault plane.
{{o}} [[Forearc Basin]]: Depression between a volcanic arc and an accretionary wedge.
{{o}} [[Fossil Water]]: Ancient groundwater sealed in an aquifer for millennia.
{{o}} [[Freeze-Thaw Weathering]]: Rock disintegration from water expansion on freezing.
{{o}} [[Fringing Reef]]: Coral reef directly attached to a shoreline.
{{o}} [[Fumarole]]: Vent emitting steam and volcanic gases.
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=== G ===
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{{o}} [[Gabion]]: Cage filled with rocks for erosion control.
{{o}} [[Gale]]: Wind of Beaufort force 8-9 (62–88 km h⁻¹).
{{o}} [[Geoid]]: Hypothetical sea-level surface extended under the continents.
{{o}} [[Geothermal Gradient]]: Rate of temperature increase with depth inside Earth.
{{o}} [[Geyser]]: Intermittent hot-water fountain expelled by geothermal heat.
{{o}} [[Glacial Isostasy]]: Crustal rebound after ice-sheet unloading.
{{o}} [[Glaciofluvial]]: Pertaining to meltwater streams emanating from glaciers.
{{o}} [[Gneiss]]: Banded, high-grade metamorphic rock.
{{o}} [[Grabben]]: Down-dropped crustal block bounded by normal faults.
{{o}} [[Granite]]: Coarse-grained felsic intrusive igneous rock.
{{o}} [[Grassland]]: Biome dominated by herbaceous vegetation with scarce trees.
{{o}} [[Green Belt]]: Zone of protected open land around a city.
{{o}} [[Groin]]: Shore-perpendicular structure trapping littoral drift.
{{o}} [[Guyot]]: Flat-topped seamount eroded near sea level then subsided.
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=== H ===
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{{o}} [[Habitat Fragmentation]]: Breakdown of continuous habitat into smaller, isolated patches.
{{o}} [[Hadley Cell]]: Tropical atmospheric circulation cell rising near the equator and descending at ~30° latitude.
{{o}} [[Hanging Valley]]: Tributary glacial valley perched above the main valley floor.
{{o}} [[Headland]]: Coastal promontory of resistant rock jutting into the sea.
{{o}} [[Heat Island]]: Urban area significantly warmer than surrounding countryside.
{{o}} [[Heliotrope Wind]]: Local airflow generated by daytime heating of mountain slopes.
{{o}} [[Horst]]: Uplifted crustal block between parallel normal faults.
{{o}} [[Hue Saturation]]: Chromatic property influencing color intensity in remote-sensing imagery.
{{o}} [[Humus]]: Stable organic matter component of soil.
{{o}} [[Hydraulic Action]]: Erosive power of flowing water on channel banks.
{{o}} [[Hydrograph]]: Plot of river discharge versus time during a runoff event.
{{o}} [[Hydrosphere]]: All water on, under, and above Earth’s surface.
{{o}} [[Hypolimnion]]: Cold, dense bottom layer of stratified lake water.
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=== I ===
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{{o}} [[Iceberg]]: Floating mass of glacier-derived ice in the ocean.
{{o}} [[Ice Jam]]: Accumulation of fragmented river ice obstructing flow.
{{o}} [[Igneous Rock]]: Rock crystallized from molten magma or lava.
{{o}} [[Illuviation]]: Deposition of leached material in lower soil horizons.
{{o}} [[Infiltration Capacity]]: Maximum rate at which soil can absorb rainfall.
{{o}} [[Interfluve]]: Ridge or high ground separating two valleys.
{{o}} [[Interglacial]]: Warm interval between glacial periods within an ice age.
{{o}} [[Intermontane Basin]]: Lowland ringed by mountain ranges.
{{o}} [[Intertidal Zone]]: Coastal area alternately exposed and submerged by tides.
{{o}} [[Inversion Layer]]: Atmospheric layer where temperature increases with height.
{{o}} [[Isentrope]]: Line of constant potential temperature on a weather chart.
{{o}} [[Isohyet]]: Line connecting points of equal rainfall.
{{o}} [[Isostasy]]: Equilibrium of Earth’s lithosphere floating on the asthenosphere.
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=== J ===
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{{o}} [[Jet Stream]]: Narrow band of strong upper-tropospheric winds.
{{o}} [[Joint]]: Fracture in rock with no appreciable movement.
{{o}} [[Juvenile Water]]: Magma-derived water newly entering the hydrosphere.
{{o}} [[Jökulhlaup]]: Sudden glacial outburst flood.
{{o}} [[Jurassic Period]]: Geological time unit 201–145 million years ago.
{{o}} [[Just-In-Time Migration]]: Animal movement matching resource peaks along a route.
{{o}} [[K-J Transition]]: Boundary between Cretaceous and Paleogene marking mass extinction.
{{o}} [[Jungle Liana]]: Woody climber typical of humid tropical forests.
{{o}} [[Jupiter Pluvius]]: Archaic term for heavy rainfall event.
{{o}} [[Jurisdictional Wetland]]: U.S. legally protected wetland under Clean Water Act.
{{o}} [[Juxtaposed Fault]]: Two faults intersecting with differing displacement.
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=== K ===
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{{o}} [[Kame]]: Irregular hill of sand and gravel deposited by retreating glacier.
{{o}} [[Kame Terrace]]: Assemblage of kames forming a valley-side bench.
{{o}} [[Karst]]: Landscape shaped by dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone.
{{o}} [[Katabatic Wind]]: Cold, downslope airflow driven by gravity.
{{o}} [[Kettle Lake]]: Water-filled depression left after buried ice melts.
{{o}} [[Kinetic Sand Transport]]: Movement of sand grains in saltation and creep.
{{o}} [[Klippé]]: Isolated remnant of a thrust sheet surrounded by autochthonous rocks.
{{o}} [[Knob-and-Kettle Topography]]: Hill-depression landscape of hummocky glacial deposits.
{{o}} [[Komatiite]]: Ultramafic volcanic rock high in magnesium; Archaean.
{{o}} [[Köppen Climate Classification]]: Widely used global climate categorization system.
{{o}} [[Kuroshio Current]]: Warm western boundary current of the North Pacific.
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=== L ===
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{{o}} [[Lagoon]]: Shallow coastal waterbody separated from the ocean by a barrier.
{{o}} [[Lahar]]: Volcanic mudflow composed of pyroclasts and water.
{{o}} [[La Niña]]: Periodic cooling of eastern Pacific influencing global weather.
{{o}} [[Lake Effect Snow]]: Heavy snowfall produced as cold air passes over a warm lake.
{{o}} [[Laminar Flow]]: Smooth, parallel fluid motion with little mixing.
{{o}} [[Laterite]]: Iron-rich tropical soil developed under intense weathering.
{{o}} [[Latitude]]: Angular distance north or south of the equator.
{{o}} [[Laurasia]]: Northern supercontinent of late Paleozoic–early Mesozoic time.
{{o}} [[Leeward]]: Side sheltered from prevailing wind.
{{o}} [[Lenticular Cloud]]: Lens-shaped cloud formed by mountain-wave uplift.
{{o}} [[Limestone Pavement]]: Flat, exposed limestone with clints and grikes.
{{o}} [[Lithification]]: Conversion of sediment into solid rock.
{{o}} [[Lithosphere]]: Rigid outer shell of Earth comprising crust and upper mantle.
{{o}} [[Loess]]: Wind-blown silt deposit forming fertile soils.
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=== M ===
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{{o}} [[Magma Chamber]]: Subsurface reservoir of molten rock beneath a volcano.
{{o}} [[Magnetosphere]]: Region around a planet dominated by its magnetic field.
{{o}} [[Mantle Plume]]: Stationary, buoyant upwelling of hot mantle material.
{{o}} [[Maritime Climate]]: Temperature regime moderated by proximity to the ocean.
{{o}} [[Mass Movement]]: Downslope transport of soil or rock under gravity.
{{o}} [[Meander]]: Sinuous bend in a river channel.
{{o}} [[Mesa]]: Flat-topped, steep-sided landform in arid regions.
{{o}} [[Metamorphic Facies]]: Mineral assemblage indicating specific pressure-temperature conditions.
{{o}} [[Microclimate]]: Climate of a small, specific place differing from the surrounding area.
{{o}} [[Midocean Ridge]]: Submarine mountain chain formed at divergent plate boundaries.
{{o}} [[Milankovitch Cycles]]: Periodic changes in Earth’s orbit influencing climate.
{{o}} [[Monsoon]]: Seasonal reversal of winds bringing heavy rain to subtropics.
{{o}} [[Moraine]]: Accumulation of glacial debris deposited by ice.
{{o}} [[Mudflat]]: Coastal sedimentary environment exposed at low tide.
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=== N ===
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{{o}} [[Nappe]]: Large sheet of rock thrust far from its original position.
{{o}} [[Neap Tide]]: Tide of minimal range occurring when sun and moon are at right angles.
{{o}} [[Nearshore Zone]]: Coastal area extending from breaker line to shoreline.
{{o}} [[Necrotic Zone]]: Hypoxic coastal water with large-scale marine die-off.
{{o}} [[Negative Feedback]]: Self-limiting response stabilizing a climatological system.
{{o}} [[Neritic Province]]: Shallow marine environment over the continental shelf.
{{o}} [[Neuston]]: Organisms living at the air-water interface.
{{o}} [[Nickpoint]]: Abrupt change in river gradient like a waterfall.
{{o}} [[Nivation Hollow]]: Depression formed by snow-related weathering and meltwater erosion.
{{o}} [[Noctilucent Cloud]]: High-altitude mesospheric cloud visible during twilight.
{{o}} [[Normal Fault]]: Extension-related fracture with hanging wall moving down.
{{o}} [[Nunatak]]: Mountain peak protruding through an ice sheet.
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=== O ===
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{{o}} [[Oasis]]: Fertile area in a desert fed by groundwater or a spring.
{{o}} [[Obduction]]: Overthrusting of oceanic lithosphere onto continental crust.
{{o}} [[Ocean Gyre]]: Large-scale circular ocean current system.
{{o}} [[Oolite]]: Sedimentary rock composed of ooids formed by concentric precipitation.
{{o}} [[Orographic Lift]]: Air ascent forced by topography causing precipitation.
{{o}} [[Orthoclase]]: Common potassium feldspar in igneous rocks.
{{o}} [[Outcrop]]: Exposed section of bedrock at Earth’s surface.
{{o}} [[Outwash Plain]]: Stratified sand and gravel deposited by glacial meltwater.
{{o}} [[Ox-Bow Lake]]: Abandoned meander loop cut off from a river.
{{o}} [[Oxidation Weathering]]: Chemical reaction of minerals with oxygen, forming oxides.
{{o}} [[Ozone Layer]]: Stratospheric region rich in O₃ absorbing ultraviolet radiation.
{{o}} [[Ozone Hole]]: Seasonal thinning of stratospheric ozone over polar regions.
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=== P ===
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{{o}} [[Paleo-Channel]]: Remnant of a former river course filled with sediment.
{{o}} [[Paleomagnetism]]: Fossil magnetism in rocks recording past magnetic fields.
{{o}} [[Palsa]]: Peat hummock with an ice core found in subarctic bogs.
{{o}} [[Parabolic Dune]]: U-shaped dune with horns pointing upwind.
{{o}} [[Perched Water Table]]: Localized saturated zone above the regional water table.
{{o}} [[Periglacial]]: Environmental processes and landforms associated with cold, non-glacial climates.
{{o}} [[Permafrost]]: Ground remaining below 0 °C for at least two consecutive years.
{{o}} [[Phreatic Eruption]]: Steam explosion when water contacts hot magma.
{{o}} [[Photon Belt]]: High-energy ring of charged particles around a planet.
{{o}} [[Piedmont Glacier]]: Ice spreading at the foot of mountains from valley glaciers.
{{o}} [[Placer Deposit]]: Concentration of heavy minerals by fluvial or marine processes.
{{o}} [[Playa]]: Dry lake bed in a desert basin.
{{o}} [[Plinian Eruption]]: Explosive volcanic event ejecting ash high into the stratosphere.
{{o}} [[Plume Cloud]]: Towering ash or smoke column from a volcanic or industrial source.
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=== Q ===
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{{o}} [[Quaking Bog]]: Water-saturated peat mat that trembles when walked upon.
{{o}} [[Quarry]]: Open-pit mine for stone or gravel extraction.
{{o}} [[Quartzite]]: Hard, non-foliated metamorphic rock from sandstone.
{{o}} [[Quaternary Period]]: Most recent geologic period, last 2.6 million years.
{{o}} [[Queue Spillway]]: Emergency overflow channel for reservoirs during floods.
{{o}} [[Quicksand]]: Liquefied soil incapable of supporting weight.
{{o}} [[Quiet Sun]]: Period of low solar magnetic activity.
{{o}} [[Quoin]]: Structural corner stone resisting weathering (architectural geology).
{{o}} [[Quoll Corridor]]: Wildlife linkage in fragmented Australian habitats.
{{o}} [[Quorum Sensing]]: Bacterial chemical communication influencing marine biofilms.
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=== R ===
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{{o}} [[Radiolarite]]: Siliceous sedimentary rock from radiolarian skeletons.
{{o}} [[Rain Shadow]]: Dry region leeward of a mountain range.
{{o}} [[Raised Beach]]: Former shoreline elevated by isostatic rebound.
{{o}} [[Reef Crest]]: Highest point of a coral reef receiving maximum wave energy.
{{o}} [[Refugia]]: Areas where species survive unfavorable conditions.
{{o}} [[Regolith]]: Loose, heterogeneous material covering solid rock.
{{o}} [[Relief Inversion]]: Low areas become topographic highs due to differential erosion.
{{o}} [[Residual Soil]]: Soil developed in place from weathering of underlying bedrock.
{{o}} [[Retrograde Orbit]]: Satellite motion opposite the planet’s rotation (planetary geology).
{{o}} [[Ria Coast]]: Drowned river valley coastline.
{{o}} [[Rift Valley]]: Linear depression formed by extensional tectonics.
{{o}} [[Rip Current]]: Narrow, seaward flow of water from surf zone.
{{o}} [[River Capture]]: Diversion of one stream into the drainage of another.
{{o}} [[Rock Glacier]]: Lobe of ice-cemented rock debris creeping downslope.
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=== S ===
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{{o}} [[Sabkha]]: Coastal or inland salt flat in arid regions.
{{o}} [[Saline Intrusion]]: Movement of seawater into freshwater aquifers.
{{o}} [[Sandur]]: Icelandic term for glacial outwash plain.
{{o}} [[Saprolite]]: Deeply weathered, soft bedrock retaining original structure.
{{o}} [[Savanna]]: Tropical grassland with scattered trees.
{{o}} [[Seafloor Spreading]]: Creation of new oceanic crust at divergent boundaries.
{{o}} [[Seamount]]: Submarine mountain rising ≥1000 m above seafloor.
{{o}} [[Serac]]: Tower of unstable glacial ice.
{{o}} [[Shear Zone]]: Region of intense rock deformation due to differential movement.
{{o}} [[Shield Volcano]]: Broad, gently sloping volcano built of fluid lava flows.
{{o}} [[Sinter]]: Siliceous or calcareous deposit from hot springs.
{{o}} [[Slackwater Deposit]]: Fine sediment left by waning floodwaters.
{{o}} [[Slide Creep]]: Extremely slow mass-movement on gentle slopes.
{{o}} [[Sublimation]]: Phase change of ice directly to vapor.
{{o}} [[Swash Zone]]: Area of wave uprush and backwash on a beach face.
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=== T ===
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{{o}} [[Talus Slope]]: Accumulation of angular rock fragments at a cliff base.
{{o}} [[Tarn]]: Small mountain lake in a cirque.
{{o}} [[Tectonic Escape]]: Lateral movement of crustal blocks away from a collisional zone.
{{o}} [[Tectonostratigraphic Terrane]]: Crustal block with distinct geologic history sutured to a continent.
{{o}} [[Temperate Rainforest]]: Rainy, mild coastal forest at mid-latitudes.
{{o}} [[Terminal Moraine]]: Ridge marking maximum glacier advance.
{{o}} [[Thermocline]]: Layer of rapid temperature change in a body of water.
{{o}} [[Thermokarst]]: Landscape of irregular ground from thawing permafrost ice.
{{o}} [[Throughfall]]: Rainwater dripping from vegetation to the ground.
{{o}} [[Tide Gauge]]: Instrument measuring sea-level changes.
{{o}} [[Tombolo]]: Sandbar linking an island to the mainland.
{{o}} [[Topographic Inversion]]: Former depressions become highs due to resistant fill.
{{o}} [[Tsunami]]: Long-wavelength sea wave generated by seafloor disturbance.
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=== U ===
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{{o}} [[U-Shaped Valley]]: Glacially carved valley with steep sides and broad floor.
{{o}} [[Ultramafic Rock]]: Igneous rock very low in silica, high in Mg and Fe.
{{o}} [[Unconfined Aquifer]]: Groundwater body open to the atmosphere through porous material.
{{o}} [[Undercutting]]: Erosional removal of material at the base of a slope or riverbank.
{{o}} [[Underfit Stream]]: Small river occupying a large valley carved by greater discharge.
{{o}} [[Uniformitarianism]]: Principle that present processes operated similarly in the past.
{{o}} [[Unstable Isotope]]: Radioactive nuclide useful for geologic dating.
{{o}} [[Upwelling]]: Ascending deep, cold, nutrient-rich ocean water.
{{o}} [[Urban Canyon]]: Street flanked by tall buildings altering wind and temperature.
{{o}} [[Uvala]]: Large closed depression formed by coalesced dolines in karst.
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=== V ===
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{{o}} [[Vadose Zone]]: Unsaturated zone between land surface and water table.
{{o}} [[Varve]]: Annual couplet of sediment layers in a glacial lake.
{{o}} [[Ventifact]]: Wind-polished rock with faceted surfaces.
{{o}} [[Vernal Pool]]: Seasonal wetland filling in spring and drying in summer.
{{o}} [[Vertical Exaggeration]]: Scale distortion used in cross-section diagrams.
{{o}} [[Vesicle]]: Gas bubble cavity in volcanic rock.
{{o}} [[Vinicunca]]: “Rainbow Mountain” in Peru exhibiting striking mineral bands.
{{o}} [[Vog]]: Volcanic smog of sulfurous gases and aerosols.
{{o}} [[Volcaniclastic]]: Fragmental material produced by volcanic activity.
{{o}} [[Vulnerability Index]]: Composite measure of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity to hazards.
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=== W ===
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{{o}} [[Wadi]]: Dry desert channel that carries water only during rare rains.
{{o}} [[Warping]]: Broad, gentle bending of Earth’s crust.
{{o}} [[Water Balance]]: Accounting of water inputs and outputs for a system.
{{o}} [[Water Table]]: Upper surface of the saturated groundwater zone.
{{o}} [[Wave Cut Platform]]: Flat bench eroded at a cliff base by marine action.
{{o}} [[Weathering]]: Physical and chemical breakdown of rocks in situ.
{{o}} [[Weichselian Glaciation]]: Last glacial phase in northern Europe.
{{o}} [[Wet Bulb Temperature]]: Lowest temperature reachable by evaporative cooling.
{{o}} [[Whitecap]]: Foamy crest of a breaking wave.
{{o}} [[Willow Spillway]]: Biotechnical stabilization using live willow bundles (river engineering).
{{o}} [[Wind Gap]]: Waterless pass once occupied by a stream.
{{o}} [[Windward]]: Side exposed to prevailing wind.
{{o}} [[Woody Debris Jam]]: Mass of fallen trees obstructing a river channel.
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=== X ===
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{{o}} [[Xenolith]]: Rock fragment enclosed within an igneous intrusion.
{{o}} [[Xeric Habitat]]: Environment characterized by low moisture availability.
{{o}} [[Xerophyte]]: Plant adapted to arid conditions.
{{o}} [[Xyloid Coal]]: Coal preserving original wood structure.
{{o}} [[Xylophilous Fungus]]: Wood-loving fungus important in decomposition.
{{o}} [[Xylophage]]: Organism that feeds on wood, influencing forest nutrient cycles.
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=== Y ===
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{{o}} [[Yacht Rock Fall]]: Informal term for coastal cliff collapse threatening marinas.
{{o}} [[Yardang]]: Wind-sculpted ridge of soft rock in arid regions.
{{o}} [[Yellow-Brown Earth]]: Temperate soil rich in iron oxides.
{{o}} [[Yetter-Drilling Effect]]: Newly identified hydrologic response to permafrost thaw and drilling.
{{o}} [[Yield Point]]: Stress at which a soil begins to plastically deform.
{{o}} [[Yosemite Decimal System]]: Rock-climbing difficulty rating (geomorphology of cliffs).
{{o}} [[Youthful Stream]]: Early stage of river incision with steep gradient.
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=== Z ===
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{{o}} [[Zeolite]]: Hydrated aluminosilicate mineral used in water purification.
{{o}} [[Zero-Fold Axis]]: Line of no folding separating opposing structural vergence.
{{o}} [[Zibar]]: Small, low-amplitude eolian sand ridge found in deserts.
{{o}} [[Zinciferous Soil]]: Soil enriched in zinc from ore bodies.
{{o}} [[Zone of Accumulation]]: Portion of a glacier where snowfall exceeds melting.
{{o}} [[Zoogeography]]: Branch of biogeography focused on animal distribution.
{{o}} [[Zuyderzee Works]]: Dutch engineering project converting an estuary into freshwater lake.
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Glossary Learning English - Versionsgeschichte