Hawai'i Physical Geography_ Kohala Waterfalls and Feral Relief_ GPH 112_ Intro to Phys Geography Lab
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112
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Geography
Date
Apr 3, 2024
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7
Uploaded by BarristerFlag12929
2/21/24, 8:48 PM
Hawai'i Physical Geography: Kohala Waterfalls and Feral Relief: GPH 112: Intro to Phys Geography Lab (2024 Spring - A)
https://canvas.asu.edu/courses/177445/quizzes/1332421
1/7
Hawai'i Physical Geography: Kohala Waterfalls and Feral Relief Due No due date
Points 8
Questions 4
Time Limit None
Instructions
The geomorphology of a shield volcano (like Mauna Loa on the left) that turns into the wild feral relief created by erosion of that volcanic surface (like
Kauai on the right that has only a tiny bit of the original dome shape)
Mauna Loa - what Kauai once looked like.
Kauai - little left of the original shield volcano
Feral Relief (feral means 'gone wild'): Origins on the Big Island
A wet tropical climate, basalt shield volcanoes, and time are the three ingredients needed to turn the dome-like surface of a volcano into a landscape of
"feral relief". The features and imagery of feral relief are presented in the diagram below.
2/21/24, 8:48 PM
Hawai'i Physical Geography: Kohala Waterfalls and Feral Relief: GPH 112: Intro to Phys Geography Lab (2024 Spring - A)
https://canvas.asu.edu/courses/177445/quizzes/1332421
2/7
The oldest Hawaiian Islands (NE) have the most feral relief,
like Kauai and Oahu. The youngest of the Hawaiian Islands
(The Big Island) has the least feral relief. The Big Island is the
best place for you to study how feral relief replaces the original
dome shape of a shield volcano.
QUESTION 1: WINDWARD/LEEWARD PRECIPITATION DIFFERENCES
What is the difference in precipitation between the windward and rainshadow sides of the Kohala volcano for the two locations provided?
These screenshots from the geovisualization should remind you of the helicopter ride up and over the Kohala volcano. Windward-side rains drive the
development of feral relief on the Big Island. INSTRUCTIONS
: You are given two locations at about the same elevation next to the deepest river valleys eroding into the two sides of Kohala: the
west (rainshadow) side and the east (windward) side. Using Fast Travel to jump to each of these locations, write down the rainfall in millimeters. Then
subtract the rainshadow precipitation from the windward side estimate the difference in rainfall.
EXAMPLE
: at the same elevation of about 1235 meters above sea level, the
Rainshadow side: 20.0782 -155.7522 has a rainfall of 1222 mm
Windward side : 20.1221 -155.7194 has a rainfall of about 4006 mm
Thus the difference in rainfall is 2783 mm.
This is almost 110 inches of rain. Think about the implications of that much more rain and what it would mean for water pouring down the river channels
2/21/24, 8:48 PM
Hawai'i Physical Geography: Kohala Waterfalls and Feral Relief: GPH 112: Intro to Phys Geography Lab (2024 Spring - A)
https://canvas.asu.edu/courses/177445/quizzes/1332421
3/7
on the side of volcano.
QUESTION 2: PLUNGE-BASIN WATERFALL HEIGHT
An important physical geography term is "knickpoint". It just means a waterfall (or a group of waterfalls or rapids). Niagara Falls is the classic example.
Knickpoints are important here, because their "retreat" uphill is the way that the feral relief valleys grow towards the volcano summit. The sudden drop
(in elevation) of water releases a lot of energy in the form of water turbulence. The turbulent water undermines the waterfall cliff, that then collapses. With each cliff collapse, the waterfall keeps moving uphill and the valley keeps growing up into the volcano. The plunge-basin waterfalls start at the coast, when water
flows over a coastal cliff. Just try to picture a small stream
flowing over the sea cliffs to the left, making a waterfall. As the
waterfall "knickpoint" retreats into the center of the volcano, the
stream valley continues to grow in length - eventually
completely eliminating the original dome of the volcano. As
some streams ate backwards into the volcano, they captured
other streams, leading to greater erosion and growing into the
large valleys we see today. INSTRUCTIONS
: You are given two locations at the head of a feral valley on the Big Island. The first location is at the top of the waterfall(s). The other
location is at the bottom of a single waterfall or sometimes a sequence of waterfall jumps. It is a lot more fun to Fast Travel to the top first. Then, jump
your avatar down and locate the second spot manually (or you can Fast Travel again). Just write down the elevations and subtract the bottom elevation
from the top elevation.
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