geomorphic component - mountains

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 slope along the sides of mountains which can be further subdivided into three portions based on the relative slope location: upper third-, middle third-, or lower third mountainflank); free face (rock outcrop); and the mountainbase (colluvium / slope alluvium apron at the bottom of the mountain).
   SW

Glossary of landform and geologic terms. 2013.

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  • geomorphic component —    A fundamental, three dimensional piece or area of a geomorphic setting (i.e., hills, mountains, terraces, flat plains) that has unique and prevailing kinetic energy dynamics and sediment transport conditions which result in their… …   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

  • 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

  • free face —    1) The part of a hillside or mountainside consisting of an outcrop of bare rock (scarp or cliff) that sheds colluvium to slopes below and commonly stands more steeply than the angle of repose of the colluvial slope (e.g., talus slope)… …   Glossary of landform and geologic terms

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