The last lesson on a Friday
Please contribute interesting, geographic, content that may be slightly off-base and appropriate for the “last lesson on a Friday”.
Archives
Tropical Depression off Madagascar developing in to a Tropical Cyclone – January 2013
The following synoptic charts show a Tropical Depressions off the east coast of Madagascar. These Tropical Depressions can develop in to Tropical Cyclones. This tropical depression has now developed in to a moderate tropical storm. In the satellite image below you can see formation of an eye. Tropical Cyclone Felleng http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=80294 Tropical Storm Felleng
Coastal Lows
The following synoptic charts are of Coastal Lows in different positions on the coast of South Africa. Coastal lows are a dominant weather feature along the South African coast. Coastal lows migrate along the South African Coastline from West to East. Coastal lows are characterized by a large change in weather from warm, dry and… Read More »
Summer Lows
Low Pressure over South Africa South Africa is situated in a High Pressure belt due to descending air from the Hadley Cell (see image below). In summer, prolonged heating of the earth’s surface in South Africa results in rising air and a Lower Pressure over the country. The South Atlantic High Pressure is ridging around the south of… Read More »
7 TED talks on Climate Change
Al Gore: New thinking on the climate crisis James Hansen: Why I must speak out about climate change Rachel Pike: The science behind a climate headline James Balog: Time-lapse proof of extreme ice loss David Keith’s unusual climate change idea Please watch this David Keith’s TED talk in conjunction with the devastating effect of Global… Read More »
Mass Movements and Human Responses
Concept of mass movements: Introduction (Note the word landslide is used instead of mass movement) Physical Causes And Consequences Of Mass Movement from tudorgeog Kinds of mass movements: Soil creep, Solifluction, landslides, rock falls and mud flows, and slumps, and The impact of mass movements on people and the environment Soil Creep: Solifluction: Landslides: … Read More »
Slopes
Overview of South Africa’s topography. Types of slopes. Slope elements: crest, cliff (scarp slope, free face), talus (debris, scree slope) and pediment. Characteristics of the slope elements: crest, cliff, talus and pediment. Slope development over time. The concept of slope retreat.
Massive Igneous Rocks
Topography Associated with Massive Igneous Rocks: Batholiths, laccoliths, lopoliths, dykes and sills Batholiths Laccoliths Dykes Sills Characteristics and processes associated with the development of: Granite domes Tors
Inclined/Tilted Rock Strata
Characteristics and processes associated with the development of: Scarp and Dip Slopes Cuesta Homoclinal ridge Hogsback Cuesta basin and Cuesta dome Utilization of these landscapes by people.
Horizontally Layered Rocks
Characteristics and processes associated with the development of: Hilly landscapes Basaltic plateaus Canyon landscapes and Karoo landscapes (mesa, butte and conical hill) Conical Hill Concept of scarp retreat or back wasting. Utilization of these landscapes by people.