Glossary of Terms: K

Kame

A steep conical hill composed of glaciofluvial sediments. This feature develops when glacial crevasses and depressions in stagnant glacial ice are filled with sand and gravel deposits from sediment loaded meltwater.

 

Kame Terrace

A long flat ridge composed of glaciofluvial sediment. This feature forms along the margin of a valley glacier where the glacial ice meets the valley's slope. Sediment is deposited by laterally flowing meltwater streams.

 

Kaolinite

A type of clay that is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions. It is produced from the weathering of granite.

 

Karst

Landform type with limestone bedrock and dominated by geomorphic features created from solution chemical weathering.

 

Katabatic Wind

Any wind blowing down the slope of a mountain.

 

Kelvin Scale

Scale for measuring temperature. In this scale, absolute zero is 0 Kelvins, water boils at 373.15 Kelvins and freezes at 273.15 Kelvins.

 

Kettle Hole

Depression found in glacial deposits. Created when a piece of ice from a retreating glacier becomes embedded in soft glacial till or glacial drift deposits. Many are filled with water to form a small lake or pond.

 

Kettle Moraine

An area of glaciofluvial influenced moraine deposits pitted with kames and kettle holes.

 

Keystone Species

Species that interacts with a large number of other species in a community. Because of the interactions, the removal of this species can cause widespread changes to community structure. Compare with immigrant species, indicator species, and native species.

 

Kilocalorie (Kcal)

Unit of energy equal to 1,000 calories.

 

Kilopascal (kPa)

A unit measurements for quantifying force. Used to measure atmospheric pressure. Equivalent to 10,000 dynes per square centimeter.

 

Kilowatt (kW)

Unit of electrical power equal to 1,000 Watts.

 

Kinetic Energy

The energy due to motion.

 

Kingdom

Top most level of the common system used to classify life. Generally, five kingdoms are recognized: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Animalia, and Plantae.

 

Kirchoff's Law

This law suggests that good emitters of radiation are also good absorbers of radiation at specific electromagnetic radiation wavelength bands. It also suggests that poor emitters of radiation are also poor absorbers of radiation at specific wavelength bands.

 

Knickpoint (British spelling)

See nickpoint.

 

Köppen Climate Classification

System that uses monthly precipitation and temperature data and total annual precipitation data to classify a location's climate into one of five main categories: Tropical Moist Climates; Dry Climates; Moist Mid-latitude Climates with Mild Winters; Moist Mid-Latitude Climates with Cold Winters; and Polar Climates. These categories are further divided into number of subcategories. First developed in 1918 by German biologist W. Köppen, this system has undergone a number of modifications.

 

K-selected Species (Logistic Strategy)

Long-lived species that produces only a few, often fairly large progeny. Also see r-selected species.

 

 

Citation: Pidwirny, M. (2006). "Glossary of Terms: K". Fundamentals of Physical Geography, 2nd Edition. Date Viewed. http://www.physicalgeography.net/physgeoglos/k.html