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PCS Earth Science
Chapter 7 Vocabulary - Weathering, Erosion, and Soil
| 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 |
| erosion | movement of weathered materials from one location to another by agents such as water (ocean currents, waves, rivers, wind, glaciers, and gravity). Fact: moving water is the most powerful agent of erosion |
| mechanical weathering | process that breaks down rocks and minerals into smaller pieces but does not involve any change in their composition. Also called physical weathering. Happens quicker in colder climates. |
| frost wedging | mechanical weathering process that occurs when water repeatedly freezes and thaws in the cracks of rocks, often resulting in the rocks splitting. Example: how potholes are made. |
| exfoliation | mechanical weathering process in which outer layers are stripped away, often resulting in dome-shaped formations |
| chemical weathering | process by which rocks and minerals undergo changes in their physical composition due to chemical reactions with agents such as acids, water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. Happens fast in areas of warm temperatures, lots of rain, and a lots of vegetation. |
| hydrolysis | chemical reaction of water with other substances |
| oxidation | chemical reaction of oxygen with other substances |
| deposition | occurs when sediments are laid down on the ground or sink to the bottom of a body of water; final stages of the erosional process in which the movement of transported materials slows and they 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. (Note: these channels can transport much more water and soil than rills) |
| soil | loose covering of weathered rock and decayed material overlaying Earth's bedrock. It is characterized by texture fertility, and color and whose composition is determined by the parent rock. Serves as a medium for the grown of plants. |
| residual soil | soil located above its parent 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 O horizon (top layer/humus and leaf), Horizon A (topsoil), Horizon B (subsoil), and Horizon C (weathered parent material) |
| O-Horizon | part of the soil horizon. Top layer of organic material made up of humus and leaf litter |
| A-Horizon | part of the soil horizon. A layer of weathered rock, combined with rich concentration of dark brown organic material |
| B-Horizon | part of the soil horizon. A layer of red or brown that has been enriched over time by clay and minerals deposited by water |
| C-Horizon | part of the soil horizon. Contains little or no organic matter and is often made of broken down bedrock. |
| hardpan | hard layer in the soil that is so thick that it does not allow any or very little water to pass through it |
| 5 factors that influence soil formation | climate, topography, parent material (residual or transported), biological organisms, and time |
| 3 characteristics of soil | 1) texture (particle size) 2) soil fertility (how well a soil can support the growth of plants) 3) soil color (determined by the minerals, organic material, and moisture |
Created by:
Ms.Sala
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