Here's a breakdown of key aspects:
* Folding: When rocks are subjected to pressure, they can bend and fold, creating mountain ranges like the Appalachian Mountains.
* Faulting: When rocks fracture and move along the fracture, it can lead to the formation of mountains like the Sierra Nevada.
* Uplift: This refers to the vertical movement of the Earth's crust, pushing land upwards to create mountains.
Causes of Orogeny:
* Plate tectonics: The most common cause is the collision of tectonic plates. When two continental plates collide, they buckle and fold, creating massive mountain ranges.
* Volcanic activity: Volcanoes can also create mountains through the accumulation of lava flows and volcanic ash.
* Isostatic adjustment: The Earth's crust is constantly adjusting to changes in its weight. This can lead to uplift and the formation of mountains.
Examples of Orogeny:
* The Himalayan Mountains, formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates.
* The Andes Mountains, formed by the subduction of the Nazca plate beneath the South American plate.
* The Rocky Mountains, formed by a complex process of tectonic plate movement and volcanic activity.
Orogeny is a fundamental process in shaping the Earth's surface and understanding it is crucial for studying geology, geomorphology, and the history of the planet.