Chapter 19: Problem 8

How did the Appalachian Mountains develop their present configuration in the course of Neogene time?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The development of the Appalachian Mountains during the Neogene period, which spans from 23 million to 2.6 million years ago, resulted mainly from climate transitions and erosion processes. Although the primary formation of these mountains had occurred much earlier through plate tectonics, their present configuration was shaped during the Neogene due to the cooler and drier climate, which intensified erosion and weathering. This led to the deepening and broadening of valleys and gorges, as well as shifts in vegetation cover, thus transforming the landscape into its current form.

Step by step solution

Understand the Neogene Period

The first step in understanding the development of the Appalachian Mountains during the Neogene period is to know about this geological time period. The Neogene spans from 23 million to 2.6 million years ago. It comprises two epochs: the Miocene, and the Pliocene. During this time, the Earth's climate became cooler and drier, leading to a significant phase of erosion in various landscapes.

Recognize the Formation of the Appalachian Mountains

The formation of the Appalachian Mountains was a result of plate tectonics, where the North American Plate collided with the African Plate around 300 million years ago during the Paleozoic era. This collision was responsible for the birth of these mountains but by the Neogene period, they had already gone through a series of transformations and existed as an old, leveled mountain range.

Evaluate the Effect of Plate Tectonics in the Neogene Period

During the Neogene period, the direct effects of plate tectonics on these old mountains were minimal, as their primary formation had already subsided. However, geologically, the movement of the plates would still have influenced the Appalachian Mountains indirectly.

Assess the Impact of Erosion

The major changes that started to affect the Appalachian Mountains during the Neogene period were primarily due to climate transitions and erosion. As the climate became cooler and drier, more areas were exposed to atmospheric conditions, leading to intensified erosion and weathering. Rivers deepened their valleys, forming gorges, and the process of natural erosion sculpted these mountains into their present configuration.

Examine the Impact of Climate Shift

Climatic changes in the Neogene period had a significant impact on the Appalachian Mountains. The cold and arid climate increased the rate of weathering and erosion, leading to the added deepening and broadening of the valleys and formation of newer landscapes. The cooler climate also led to a change in vegetation cover that further influenced the soil and erosion rates.

Summarize the process

The Appalachian Mountains, already present as a significant landscape feature from millions of years ago, underwent a series of changes during the Neogene period mainly due to factors of erosion and climate changes. The Neogene's cooler and drier climate led to accelerated weathering and erosion processes, reshaping the mountains into their current profile.

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How did the Appalachian Mountains develop their present configuration in the course of Neogene time?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Understand the Neogene Period

Recognize the Formation of the Appalachian Mountains

Evaluate the Effect of Plate Tectonics in the Neogene Period

Assess the Impact of Erosion

Examine the Impact of Climate Shift

Summarize the process

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