Glossary of landform and geologic terms. 2013.
geomorphic component - flat plains — A group of fundamental, three dimensional pieces or areas of flat plains. In descending elevational order, the geomorphic components of a simple, flat plain (e.g., lake plain, low coastal plain, etc.) are the rise [ a broad, slightly… … Glossary of landform and geologic terms
geomorphic component - hills — A set of fundamental, three dimensional areas and positions that geomorphically define a hill or ridge. In descending topographic order, the geomorphic components are interfluve (stable summit area) ; crest (unstable summit converged… … Glossary of landform and geologic terms
geomorphic component - mountains — A group of fundamental, three dimensional pieces or areas of mountains. In descending elevational order, the geomorphic components of a simple mountain are the mountaintop (roughly analogous to the crest or summit); mountainflank (the long… … Glossary of landform and geologic terms
geomorphic component - terraces, stepped landforms — A group of fundamental, three dimensional pieces or areas of terraces, flood plain steps, and other stepped landforms (e.g., stacked lava flow units). In descending elevational order, the geomorphic components are the tread (the level to… … Glossary of landform and geologic terms
mountainbase — A geomorphic component of mountains consisting of the lowermost area, consisting of the strongly to slightly concave colluvial apron or wedge at the bottom of mountain slopes; composed of long transport colluvium and slope alluvium sediment.… … Glossary of landform and geologic terms
mountainflank — A geomorphic component of mountains consisting of the side area of mountains, characterized by very long, complex backslopes with comparatively high slope gradients and composed of highly diverse, colluvial sediment mantles, complex near… … Glossary of landform and geologic terms
mountaintop — A geomorphic component of mountains consisting of the uppermost, comparatively level or gently sloped area of mountains, characterized by relatively short, simple slopes composed of bare rock, residuum, or short transport colluvial sediments.… … Glossary of landform and geologic terms
crest — 1) a) The commonly linear, narrow top of a ridge, hill, or mountain. It is appropriately applied to elevated areas where retreating backslopes are converging such that these high areas are almost exclusively composed of convex shoulders.… … Glossary of landform and geologic terms
base slope — [ geomorphology ] A geomorphic component of hills consisting of the concave to linear slope (perpendicular to the contour) which, regardless of the lateral shape is an area that forms an apron or wedge at the bottom of a hillside dominated… … Glossary of landform and geologic terms
dip — 1) [ soil survey ] A geomorphic component (characteristic piece) of flat plains (e.g., lake plain, low coastal plain, low relief till plain) consisting of a shallow and typically closed depression that tends to be an area of focused… … Glossary of landform and geologic terms
