continental landform — ▪ geology Introduction any conspicuous topographic feature on the largest land areas of the Earth. Familiar examples are mountains (including volcanic (volcanism) cones), plateaus, and valleys. (The term landform also can be applied to… … Universalium
residuum — (residual soil material) Unconsolidated, weathered, or partly weathered mineral material that accumulates by disintegration of bedrock in place. Compare: colluvium, regolith, saprolite. HP … Glossary of landform and geologic terms
cockpit — A crudely star shaped, closed depression (i.e., large sinkhole) in tropical karst having an inverted conical or slightly concave floor, with an irregular or serrate perimeter formed by subsidiary solution channels and corridors into adjacent… … Glossary of landform and geologic terms
cockpit karst — A karst landscape dominated by subsurface drainage and serrate or star shaped depressions (cockpits) that range widely in size and density but typically are considerably larger than sinkholes (dolines), and are separated by intermediate… … Glossary of landform and geologic terms
cone karst — A variety of kegel karst topography, common in the tropics (e.g., Puerto Rico, Pacific Basin Islands) characterized by steep sided, cone shaped residual hills and ridges separated by star shaped depressions, broader valleys, or lagoons. These… … Glossary of landform and geologic terms
desert pavement — A natural, residual concentration or layer of wind polished, closely packed gravel, boulders, and other rock fragments, mantling a desert surface. It is formed where wind action and sheetwash have removed all smaller particles or where rock… … Glossary of landform and geologic terms
inselberg — A prominent, isolated, residual knob, hill, or small mountain, usually smoothed and rounded, rising abruptly from an extensive lowland erosion surface in a hot dry region; generally bare and rocky although the lower slopes are commonly buried… … Glossary of landform and geologic terms
karst cone — A conically shaped residual hill in karst with a rounded top and relatively steep, convex (e.g., parabolic) side slopes, commonly in tropical climates. Compare: karst tower, mogote. SW & WW … Glossary of landform and geologic terms
saprolite — Soft, friable, isovolumetrically weathered bedrock that retains the fabric and structure of the parent rock (Colman and Dethier, 1986) and exhibiting extensive inter crystal and intra crystal weathering. In pedology, saprolite was formerly… … Glossary of landform and geologic terms
tower karst — a) A type of tropical karst topography characterized by isolated, steep sided, residual limestone hills or ridges with vertical or near vertical walls, and may be relatively flat topped; commonly surrounded by a flat alluvial plain or lagoons … Glossary of landform and geologic terms
