Illustrated Geology Glossary (at 35,000 feet) - C

Glossary!

These are common geologic (and manmade/geographic features), as seen from 35,000 feet.

You can open any of these examples in Google Earth by clicking the Google Earth icon:

If you don't know the name of the feature you're looking for, go here: "What Was That?" (This is a tool that sorts features based on what they look like: mountains, rivers, valleys, piles of sand etc.)

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{C} back to top

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Canyon, Slot - A deep, very narrow canyon, typically formed in limestone or sandstone and so frequently found in the Southwest {read more}

Scale: Images are taken from an altitude of ~35,000 feet, and so are each ~1 mile across.

Open these examples in Google Earth, or download all of the landforms here.

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Channel Bar - A deposit of sediment in a channel. Similar to a point bar, but not restricted to the shoreline. Usually an indication that the river carries large amounts of sediment during flood times. {read more}

Scale: Images are taken from an altitude of ~35,000 feet, and so are each ~1 mile across.

Open these examples in Google Earth, or download all of the landforms here.

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Cinder Cone - A small, steep mountain of volcanic ash and cinder that accumulates around a small volcanic vent. They are common in the Southwest (especially Arizona) and in the Cascades. They're easily identified by their small, conical shape, and the large gaping hole on top. You can often see recent (solidified) lava flows pouring from their tops {read more}

Scale: Images are taken from an altitude of ~35,000 feet, and so are each ~1 mile across.

Open these examples in Google Earth, or download all of the landforms here.

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Cirque - A curved mountain face formed by glacial erosion. The cirque on the right is outlined in red to illustrate {read more}

Scale: Images are taken from an altitude of ~11 miles, and so are each ~3 miles across.

Open these examples in Google Earth, or download all of the landforms here.

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Coastal Dunes - See "Dunes, Coastal"

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Confluence- The merging of two rivers. {read more}

Scale: Images are taken from an altitude of ~35,000 feet, and so are each ~1 mile across.

Open these examples in Google Earth, or download all of the landforms here.

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Crescentic Dunes - See "Dunes, Crescentic"

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Cutbank- Pointbars are piles of sand and sediment that accumulate on the sides of river meanders, where the water slows down as it rounds the curve. Cutbanks are the outer banks of meanders, where the water speeds up and erodes down the side. {read more}

Scale: Images are taken from an altitude of ~35,000 feet, and so are each ~1 mile across.

Open these examples in Google Earth, or download all of the landforms here.