click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Chapter 7 Vocab
Term | Definition |
---|---|
weathering | chemical or mechanical process that breaks down and changes rocks on or near Earth's surface and whose rate is influenced by factors such as precipitation and temperature |
mechanical weathering | process that breaks down rocks and minerals into smaller pieces but does not involve any change in their composition |
frost wedging | mechanical weathering process that occurs when water repeatedly freezes and thaws in the cracks of rocks, often resulting in rocks splitting. |
exfoliation | mechanical weathering process in which outer rock layers are stripped away, often resulting in dome-shaped formations |
chemical weathering | process by which rocks and minerals undergo changes in their composition due to chemical reactions with agents such as acids, water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. |
oxidation | chemical reaction of oxygen with other substances |
erosion | removal and transport of weathered materials from one location to another by agents such as water, wind, glaciers, and gravity. |
deposition | occurs when eroded materials are dropped in another location. |
rill erosion | erosion in which water running down the side of a slope carves a small stream channel |
gully erosion | erosion that occurs when a rill channel widens and deepens |
soil | loose covering of weathered rock and decayed organic matter overlying Earth's bedrock that is characterized by texture, fertility, and color and whose composition is determined by its parent rock and environmental conditions. |
residual soil | soil that develops from parent material which is similar to local bedrock. |
transported soil | soil that has been moved away from its parent material by water, wind, or a glacier. |
soil profile | vertical sequence of soil layers, containing A-Horizon B-Horizon C-Horizon. |
soil horizon | distinct layer within a soil profile. |