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Earths Surface Ch 4
Vocabulary from Ch. 4: Weathering and Soil Formation
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| weathering | the process by which natural forces break down rocks. |
| mechanical weathering | the breaking up of rocks by physical forces. |
| exfoliation | a process in which layers or sheets of rocks gradually break off; sometimes called onion-skin weathering. |
| abrasion | the process of wearing down by friction, the rubbing of one object or surface against another. |
| chemical weathering | the breakdown of rocks by chemical reactions that change the rocks' makeup, or composition. |
| humus | the decayed organic matter in soil. |
| soil horizon | a layer of soil with properties that differ from those of the layer above or below it. |
| soil profile | made up of the soil horizons in a specific location. |
| desertification | the expansion of desert conditions in areas where the natural plant cover has been destroyed. |