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Earth Science Unit 4
Surface Processes
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Weathering | the breakdown of rock at Earth’s surface |
Chemical Weathering | The breakdown of rock through a change in mineral or chemical composition |
Oxidation | when iron combines with oxygen to create rust |
Sinkhole | a natural depression in a land surface formed by the dissolution and collapse of a cavern roof |
Physical Weathering | the breakdown of rock into smaller pieces without chemical change |
Abrasion | occurs when rock particles grind against rock |
Frost Action - | weathering process caused by cycles of freezing and thawing of water in rock openings Water infiltrates cracks in the rock and when it freezes it expands 10% causes the rock to split apart |
Infiltration | the process which water penetrates into soil or rock |
Plant Root Growth | as plants grow they can also spread cracks apart even farther |
Abrupt Temperature Changes | as temperature increases rocks expand and fracture |
Humus | part of the soil that serves as a source of plant nutrients |
Erosion | process where particles are transported as sediment |
Agents of Erosion | forces that are set in motion by gravity that causes sediments to move |
Gravity --- Direct Role | Force behind most agents of erosion Causes rivers to flow, ice to move, and rocks to slide |
The Sun --- Indirect Role | Drives the water cycle which produced rain and ice Fuels winds and drives ocean currents |
Deposition | the process by which sediments are released from an erosional system |
Sorted Sediment | layers of sediment that are similar in size, shape or density Example: deposition from a stream |
Unsorted Sediment | layers of sediment that are mixed in size, shape or density Example: deposition from a glacier |
Horizontal Sorting | when the velocity of a wind or water erosional system gradually decreases; the size, roundness, and density gradually decrease as you move farther out |
Vertical Sorting - | larger or more dense sediments settle to the bottom first, followed by decreasing size and density. |
Tributary | smaller streams that flow into a larger one |
Flood Plain | nearly level plain that borders the river |
Levee | mound of sediment that parallels the course of the river that prevents flooding |
Stream Velocity | the speed of the stream |
Gradient | slope of the stream |
Discharge | amount of water that flows past a given point at a given time |
Channel Shape | shape of the bed where the running water is confined |
V-Shaped Valley | down cutting of a stream |
Meanders | as a stream gets older it begins to shift its course in a series of bends |
Glacier | naturally formed mass of ice and snow that moves downhill under the force of gravity |
Continental Glaciers | huge sheets of ice that cover entire land masses |
Valley Glaciers | glaciers that form in high elevations in mountain valleys |
U-Shaped Valleys | shape of the valley walls from glacial erosion |
Erratics | large deposited fragments that can be transported hundreds of miles inside or on top of the glacier. |
Drumlins | streamlined oval shaped mounds of unsorted sediment |
Eskers | a long winding ridge of sands and gravels |
Terminal Moraines | a mound of till deposited along the leading edge of a glacier |
Till | unsorted sediments deposited by a glacier |
Glacial Grooves | long parallel scratches formed by sediment embedded in a glacier that has passed over the surface The grooves indicate the direction the glacier has traveled |
Kettle Lake | depression left in the ground that is filled with glacial melt water |
Outwash Plain | broad glacial feature of smaller sediment carried from the melting water of a retreating glacier Example: Southern Long Island |
Mass Movement | the pulling of rock and sediment downhill by the force of gravity the pulling of rock and sediment downhill by the force of gravity |
Mass movement involves two forces: | Gravity - the force of attraction where objects fall towards the center of the Earth Friction - the rubbing of one object against another |
Deflation | wind blows away loose sediment lowering the land surface until there is no more loose sediment to erode |
Abrasion | wind picks up and blows smaller sediment against another surface wearing it down |
Sand Dune | depositional feature when sand is deposited in layers or mounds Windward Side: gentle slope Leeward Side: steep slope |
Long Shore Current | ocean current that flows parallel and close to the shore. |