escarpment

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escarpment

escarpment or scarp, long cliff, bluff, or steep slope, caused usually by geologic faulting (see fault) or by erosion of tilted rock layers. An example of a fault scarp is the north face of the San Jacinto Mts. in California. Examples of erosional escarpments include the Palisades along the Hudson River and the long break separating the coastal region from the inland area in Texas, roughly paralleling the coast.

escarpment

[ə′skärp·mənt]

(geology)

A cliff or steep slope of some extent, generally separating two level or gently sloping areas, and produced by erosion or by faulting. Also known as scarp.

(ordnance)

The ground surrounding a fortified place which has been cut away nearly vertically to prevent an enemy's approach.

escarpment

A steep slope in front of a fortification to impede the approach of an enemy.

escarpment

a. the long continuous steep face of a ridge or plateau formed by erosion; scarp

b. any steep slope, such as one resulting from faulting

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

References in periodicals archive ?

Perched on the very edge of an escarpment with the best view any bedroom window in Saudi Arabia can offer is a clean, modern though simply fitted out hotel.

Ash Sharraf Park -- a special weekend away

More specifically the paper relates to current research focusing on planning for the cultural significance of the Niagara Escarpment landform in Ontario, Canada.

Tracing the connections among municipal amalgamation, community identity, and planning for the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario. (Ideas)

Investigators said that the 21-year-old victim lost control over his vehicle and veered off the road before the car overturned and fell into the escarpment.

Death fall: Driver killed as vehicle careens into steep slope in Ras Al Khaimah

Other US soldiers are inspired by the conscientious objector's being able to rescue a staggering total of 75 injured soldiers, and then pull them out of harm's way by rappelling them down on the steep escarpment.

Amazing courage of a conscientious objector

Since April 26, various American units of the 24th and 96th Divisions had been engaged in fierce battle with the Japanese at the Maeda Escarpment. After an artillery barrage of 1,616 rounds, the attack had been launched.

Desmond Doss: his only weapon was his conscience

The dividing geological feature is the escarpment east of which the Namibian interior plateau lies at an average elevation of about 1400 metres above sea level.

Understanding weather not predicting

Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team (CMRT) were called out yesterday at 3.15pm by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service to assist with the rescue of a man who had crashed the paraglider into the side of the escarpment at Carlton Bank, near Lord Stone.

Helicopter rescues hurt paraglider pilot

The critical section of this pipeline crosses the Jansz shelf escarpment, which is considered one of the most significant challenges on the Gorgon project's offshore scope.

OMS completes pipe fit-up project for Gorgon Jansz Scarp Crossing

From the rugged sandstone escarpment of the Kimba Plateau through to the wetland and river systems that flow west into the Gulf of Carpentaria, Olkola country is a diverse range of ecosystems and landforms.

Who are the Olkola?

From the comforts of a washroom-equipped, air-conditioned bus, travellers will take in views of spectacular scenery along the Manitoba Escarpment. A homemade Mennonite lunch in Winkler is included.

MHS field tours: "Morden, Winkler, and the Manitoba escarpment"

In March 2013, an international team of researchers led by Charlie Paull of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) created the first detailed map of the Campeche Escarpment. The team used multi-beam sonars on the research vessel Falkor, operated by the Schmidt Ocean Institute.

Researchers map underwater crater linked to dinosaur extinction 65 mln yrs ago

The character of the local, dolomitic limestone soils of the Escarpment to the gravel silts near the lakeshore, are ideal for growing a wide variety of fruit, including vinifera grapes such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot.