Everything about Escarpment totally explained
In
geomorphology, an
escarpment is a transition zone between different physiogeographic provinces that involves a sharp, steep
elevation differential, characterized by a
cliff or steep slope. Escarpment is generally used interchangeably with
scarp (from the
Italian scarpa). Some sources will differentiate between an escarpment and scarp. Escarpment then refers to the margin between two landforms, while scarp refers to or is synonomous with a cliff or steep slope . The surface of the steep slope is called a scarp face. Scarps are generally formed by one of two processes: either by differential
erosion of
sedimentary rocks, or by vertical movement of the Earth's crust along a fault (
faulting).
Most commonly, an escarpment is a transition from one series of sedimentary rocks to another series of a different age and composition. When sedimentary beds are tilted and exposed to the surface,
erosion and
weathering may occur differentially based on the composition. Less resistant rocks will erode faster, retreating until the point they're overlain by more resistant rock (see cross section schematic). When the
dip of the bedding is gentle, a
cuesta is formed. Steeper dips (greater than 30-40°)
form
hogbacks.
Escarpments are also frequently formed by
faults. When a fault displaces the ground surface so that one side is higher than the other, a
fault scarp is created. This can occur in dip-slip faults, or when a strike-slip fault brings a piece of high ground adjacent to an area of lower ground.
More loosely, the term scarp describes the zone between coastal lowlands and continental
plateaus which have a marked, abrupt change in elevation due to coastal erosion at the base of the plateau.
Earth isn't the only planet where escarpments occur. They are believed to occur on other planets when the
crust contracts; as a result of cooling.
Significant escarpments
Africa
Antarctica
Usas Escarpment
Asia
Vindhyan Escarpment (India)
Australia and New Zealand
Australia
New Zealand
Europe
England
North America
Canada and the United States
United States
Further Information
Get more info on 'Escarpment'.
|
External Link Exchanges
Do you know how hard it is to get a link from a large encyclopaedia? Well we're different and will prove it. To get a link from us just add the following HTML to your site on a relevant page:
<a href="http://escarpment.totallyexplained.com">Escarpment Totally Explained</a>
Then simply click through this link from your web page. Our crawlers will verify your link, extract the title of your web page and instantly add a link back to it. If you like you can remove the words Totally Explained and embed the link in article text.
As long as your link remains in place, we'll keep our link to you right here. Please play fair - our crawlers are watching. Your site must be closely related to this one's topic. Any kind of spamming, dubious practises or removing the link will result in your link from us being dropped and, potentially, your whole site being banned. |
