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Vocabulary
Chapter 8
Term | Definition |
---|---|
weathering | breaking down rock and other substances at earths suface |
erosion | the removal of rock particles by wind, water, ice, or gravity |
uniformitarianism | principle that states that the same processes that operate today operated in the past |
mechanical weathering | rock is physically broken down |
abrasion | the grinding away of rock particles carried by water, ice, wind, or gravity |
ice wedging | water seeps into a crack and freezes then the crack gets bigger and the water thaws and happens again |
chemical weathering | breaking down rock through chemical changes |
oxidation | iron combines with oxygen in the presence of water in water |
permeable | means that a material is full tiny connected air spaces that allow water to seep through it |
soil | lose weathered material on earths surface in which a plant might grow |
bedrock | a solid layer of rock beneath the soil |
humus | a dark-colored substance that forms as plants and animals decay |
fertility | is the measure of how well the soil supports plant growth |
loam | soil that is made up of about equal parts of clay sand and silt |
topsoil | a crumbly dark brown soil that is made of humus clay and other material |
subsoil | consists of clay and other particles washed down from the a horizon but little humus |
litter | plants die their remains fall to the ground and become the litter |
decomposers | the organisms that break down the remains of dead organisms into smaller pieces and digest them |
sod | is he thick mass of tough roots at the surface of the soil |
natural resoure | anything in the enviornment that humans can use |
dust bowl | the area of the great plains were wind erosion caused soil loss |
soil conservation | is the management of soil to prevent its destruction contour plowing,and conservation and crop rotation are examples |